Fireworks Safety

6/18/2018 (Permalink)

When most people think of summer, particularly the Fourth of July, fireworks come to mind. While it’s best to just let the pros take care of bright light displays, we realize that many people often ignite their own fireworks. Here are some tips on how to stay safe while lighting off your own fireworks.

• Never let young children handle fireworks.
• Ensure older children are supervised closely by an adult when using sparklers and remind them to keep the sparkler away from their body, clothing, hair and others.
• Store fireworks in a cool damp place until usage.
• Do not use or buy illegal fireworks. These typically have names such as M-80, M-100, quarter pounder or blockbuster. Illegal fireworks account for the majority of accidents cause by fireworks in the first place.
• Never try to make your own fireworks.
• Read the labels on all fireworks before igniting so you are aware of safety precautions and performance of each.
• Do not carry fireworks in your hand or pocket as they could ignite due to friction.
• Never light fireworks in a metal or glass container.
• Wear protective goggles when lighting fireworks off or if you happen to be near the ignite site.
• Always have a bucket of water nearby and a hose just in case.
• Never reignite a dud. Wait twenty minutes and if it still hasn’t gone off, place it in a bucket full of water away from people, structures and flammables for several hours.
• Never point a firework at someone, even in jest.
• Ignite fireworks outdoors in an open space away from people, homes, brush and other flammable substances.
• Only light one firework at a time.
• Soak all fireworks in a bucket of water for several hours before throwing them away.
• Do not pick up firework debris until several hours after the display as many of pieces may still be hot and can cause burns.

Please keep these Safety tips in mind when setting off fireworks this season!