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Fireworks are one of the most fun and awe-inducing hallmarks of the Fourth of July. However, they can be a very dangerous pasttime, especially if you are shooting them off from home. Two hundred people on average go to the emergency room every day with fireworks-related injuries in the month around the the holiday. To keep you and your family and friends safe, be sure to follow these safety tips, courtesy of the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission:
1. Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
2. Avoid buying fireworks that are packaged in brown paper because this is often a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and that they could pose a danger to consumers.
3. Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities. Parents don't realize that young children suffer injuries from sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees - hot enough to melt some metals.
4. Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Back up to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.
5. Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully.
6. Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
7. Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.
8. Light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly.
9. Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.
10. After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding it to prevent a trash fire.
And last but not least, make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them. Cities and counties in the St. Louis metro area have different rules and regulations, so be sure to check the laws in your area.
For even more safety tips, check out this video from the National Council on Fireworks Safety:
