Fire Safety & Education

Fireworks-related injuries and deaths spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic;  Fireworks safety is critical for 4th of July Celebrations. Remember, fireworks can be dangerous, causing serious burn and eye injuries. You can help us prevent fireworks-related injuries and deaths. How? By working with a national, state or local organization where you live to promote fireworks safety in your community. Follow these safety tips when using fireworks:  Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks; avoid buying fireworks that are packaged in brown paper because this is often a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and they could pose a danger to consumers; 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; 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; never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully; never point or throw fireworks at another person; keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap; light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly; never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers; 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; make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.

Fireworks Safety Tips: Choose to use legal fireworks. If consumer fireworks are legal to buy where you live and you choose to use them, be sure to follow the following safety tips: Never allow young children to handle fireworks; older children should use them only under close adult supervision; never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol; anyone using fireworks or standing nearby should wear protective eyewear; never hold lit fireworks in your hands; never light them indoors; only use them away from people, houses and flammable material; never point or throw fireworks at another person; only light one device at a time and maintain a safe distance after lighting; never ignite devices in a container; do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks; soak both spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding; keep a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don't go off or in case of fire; never use illegal fireworks. Your best best is to grab a blanket a patch of lawn, kick back and let the experts handle the fireworks show.

Sparklers are dangerous. Every year young children can be found along parade routes and at festivals with sparklers in hand, but sparklers are a lot more dangerous than most people think.  Sparklers burn at about 2,000 degrees – hot enough to melt some metals. Sparklers can quickly ignite clothing, and children have received severe burns from dropping sparklers on their feet. According to the National Fire Protection Association, sparklers alone account for more than 25% of emergency room visits for fireworks injuries. For children under 5 years of age, sparklers accounted for nearly half of the total estimated injuries.  Consider using safer alternatives, such as glow sticks, confetti poppers or colored streamers.