One of the best parts of any Independence Day Celebration is the Fireworks. But when you have a house full of tiny humans you have to be extra careful that everyone stays safe!
Many people tend to think that sparklers are an easy, “kid friendly” kind of firework, but did you know that sparklers burn at more than 1000 degrees? According to ConsumerAffairs.com, “Firecrackers, rockets and sparklers account for most of the injuries we see during that period,” says Bo Kennedy, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics and associate director of the Emergency Department at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Sparklers actually cause the highest number of injuries in children under 5. When a sparkler is burning, what it’s releasing is essentially molten metal. That can cause some very serious burns.”
63% of fireworks injuries involve burns and about 45% of fireworks injuries occur with children under the age of 14 – I think it’s pretty safe to say that children and fireworks don’t mix!
So as you celebrate this 4th of July, remember these tips so your family can have a safe and fun holiday!
- Leave it to the professionals. Many cities around town will shoot fireworks off for the public to see. Our most popular display in Birmingham is Thunder on the Mountain that kicks off at 9pm from Vulcan.
- If you choose to set fireworks off in your yard make sure: 1. that it’s legal in your area and 2. that everyone stays away from the action. You don’t have to do anything too fancy to impress the kids, putting them up on the porch or deck while you stand in the yard with a sparkler will make them happy. Remember, many fireworks injuries that happen in the United States are on kids who were watching an adult handling the igniting of the fireworks. Keeping a safe distance is imperative!
- Keep a bucket of water or a water hose near by in case of an emergency or to extinguish any mishaps that might occur.
- Never try to relight malfunctioned fireworks. Make sure they are properly extinguished and thrown away.
- Getting crafty with fireworks is not a good idea, never mess around with homemade fireworks. I’m guessing this is something that even Martha Stewart would advise against.
- Never aim fireworks at another person and make sure that all of your spectators are out of range before lighting your fireworks.
Are fireworks a staple at your Independence Day party? What tips do you have for keeping everyone safe?
For more information on fireworks safety check out this fact sheet from the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
