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Enjoy Fireworks, but Safety First

Fireworks can be beautiful and light up the night, but it is important to remember that they need to be used with caution or even better, let the experts put on the show. Fireworks can be advertised like toys around the #4thofjuly and you may think you can use them safely. Fireworks are dangerous and two-thirds of fireworks injuries treated in emergency rooms happened between mid-June and mid-July.

According to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the following are some fireworks injury statistics:

• Fireworks devices, including sparklers, are involved in an estimated 12,900 injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms in 2017 (the latest year for which data is available).
• An estimated 8,700 fireworks-related injuries (or 67% of the total estimated fireworks-related injuries in 2017) were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments surrounding the #July4th period.
• Children 10 to 14 years of age had the highest estimated rate of emergency department- treated, fireworks-related injuries.
• 14% of all injuries reported are eye injuries, including rupturing the globe of the eye, corneal abrasions, retinal detachment, chemical burns – all of which can cause permanent eye damage and vision loss.

We don’t want to put a damper on your celebration, but... The best way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a professional, public fireworks show in your community.

If you choose to purchase fireworks, please follow these safety tips from the Consumer Product Safety Commission:

• Don’t allow young children to play with fireworks.
• Older children should be permitted to use fireworks only under adult supervision.
• Set off fireworks outdoors in a clear area, away from houses, dry leaves, or grass and other flammable materials.
• Keep a bucket of water nearby for emergencies and for pouring on fireworks that fail to ignite or explode.
• Don’t try to relight or handle malfunctioning or “dud” fireworks. Soak them with water and throw them away.
• Never light fireworks in a container, especially a glass or metal container.
• Never have any portion of your body directly over a firework while lighting.
• Store fireworks in a cool, dry place.
• Do not experiment with homemade fireworks.

Enjoy the summer, but please practice #celebratesafely!!