With hot summer nights, family and friend barbecues, and firework tents on every corner, at-home firework shows can be a great activity to create memories. Firework safety is an important part of celebrating these fun times and special holidays, such as the Fourth of July and Pioneer Day (a holiday unique to our home state). If you’re not careful, fireworks can cause several injuries, such as burns. An average of 230 people are rushed to the emergency room around the 4th of July holiday with firework-related injuries. The best way to protect your family is to be educated before setting off any fireworks on your property.
Buy only legal ones. They have a label listing the firework manufacturer’s name. Illegal fireworks don’t have a label and account for many firework-related injuries.
Kids should never play with them. The only exception to this rule are sparklers. While they are popular among the kids, even sparklers are reaching a temperature hot enough to melt gold, 1,800°F. This includes clean-up time as well. Don’t let children pick up the firework remnants at the end of the show. Fireworks are still dangerous even after being lit. Whenever you have fireworks around, watch your children and your neighbor’s children. It is easier to prevent injury than to treat injury. All eyes on the kiddos!
A bucket of water and a hose. Always have a bucket of water nearby and a hose ready to go in case of an emergency.
Use the bucket for duds, too. Never relight a dud. If you encounter a “dud,” wait 20 minutes before picking it up and immediately immerse it in a bucket of water.
Outside only. Never light fireworks off indoors. Always light them outside and far away from any brush.
Never hold one with any part of your body. Never point it at any one, ever. This should go without saying…
Don’t carry them in your pocket. The friction can set them off.
One at a time, with safety glasses. The first step in prevention is always safety glasses, isn’t it?
Douse with water before throwing them out. This is because they can still be ignited. Soak them in water and then throw them out in a metal trashcan.
For more firework safety tips, click here for the National Council on Firework Safety page.
If you or your child is injured by fireworks, immediately see a doctor. Don’t touch or rub your eye if eye injury occurs, and remove clothing and run cool water over a burn if burn injury occurs. Again, see a doctor immediately.
Fireworks are an exciting form of entertainment, but you’ll feel more safe knowing you and your family are educated in firework safety. If you have questions regarding anything in this post or would like to meet with one of our award-winning doctors, call our office at 801-724-9840.