Summer is finally heating up and Fourth of July is just around the corner. You know what that means, right? Fireworks will be heard and seen from miles away pretty much everywhere. Although stunning to look at, the harsh reality is that fireworks can be dangerous, deadly even. In fact, fireworks are the cause of 240 emergency room visits every year around the month of July, according to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. Furthermore, the hands and fingers are the most injured body part when it comes to fireworks-related injuries.
“Consumer fireworks are simply too dangerous for personal use and we do not recommend that they be used. In one of the studies that we’ve done, it had a 3-year-old pediatric focus, and it showed that more than half of the time there was an adult standing right there supervising at the moment of injury, so our conclusion was that supervision is not enough,” says Dr. Gary Smith, president of the Child Injury Prevention Alliance and professor of Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine and Epidemiology at Ohio State University.
“In another study, up to 25 percent of the injuries to children occurred when they were simply bystanders and that number jumps even higher when you look at eye-related injuries. The safest thing people can do is simply don’t use consumer fireworks but to go a public display of fireworks conducted by professionals.”
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Now, of course, fireworks-related injuries can happen to anyone at any age and realistically speaking, fireworks have become a go-to way to celebrate Fourth of July for many Americans. Although we don’t want to take away any of the fun that comes along with that, it’s also important to remember and follow these 10 safety tips whenever using fireworks:
10. Always use fireworks outdoors, never indoors.
9. Wear safety glasses while igniting fireworks.
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8. Never allow your children or anyone else’s children to play with or ignite fireworks, even those seemingly-harmless sparklers.
7. Make sure you have a bucket of water or a water hose nearby.
6. Take the time read through the directions that come along with the fireworks before igniting them.
5. Fireworks should always be ignited one at a time...
4. Move back right away the second the fireworks are ignited.
3. Fifteen to 20 minutes after the fireworks are done burning, soak them in a bucket of water for a few hours or overnight before tossing them in the trash to prevent any fires.
2. Never purchase illegal/homemade fireworks.
1. In some states, fireworks are illegal, so make sure your state isn’t one of them before purchasing and igniting any.
Alternatives to Fireworks
If you choose not to purchase fireworks, there are plenty of other fun activities you and your family and friends can participate in throughout the Fourth of July weekend. Also, if you have children, then you’re definitely going to want to check out these fun, safe ways to celebrate the holiday from the folks at Prevent Blindness:
- Paint flower pots with red, white and blue paint and glitter. Then plant a seed.
- Make pinwheels or wind socks with an Independence Day theme.
- After the sun goes down, wrap flashlights in colored cellophane to provide fun shades of light.
- Purchase non-toxic glow-sticks, ropes and jewelry that can safely light the night for kids.
- Let kids create in the kitchen by making fun desserts using blueberries, strawberries and whipping cream for star-spangled treats.
- Have children design and decorate their own t-shirts and hats using glow in the dark paints. Add puffy paints and glitter to make them sparkle.
- Use hypoallergenic face paint or make-up to make designs on your child’s face. Adults should apply the face paint and remove it with cold cream or eye make-up remover instead of soap. Follow product guidelines about applying product directly around the eyes.
For even more firework safety tips, be sure to visit www.firworkssafety.org and www.cpsc.gov. You can also download this safety fact sheet.
