Safety Tips To Launching Your Own Fireworks This Fourth of July

From 2 to 82 – everyone loves the “boom booms.” As we prepare for the biggest barbeque holiday of the year, we’re here to help you with some firework safety tips.
While most of these tips are common sense, it’s always good to remind yourself and loved ones of the hazards that come from lighting fireworks. Thanks to the CPSC for some of these!

• Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
• Avoid buying fireworks that are packaged in brown paper. This is often a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and that they could pose a danger to consumers.
• Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees – hot enough to melt some metals. Anyone – especially young children – can suffer injuries from sparklers.
• 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.
• Make sure it’s out. After fireworks complete their burning, douse it with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding it to prevent a trash fire.
• Check local laws and regulations. Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them, or if family and friends have brought them to your event.

By following these guidelines, we hope fireworks-related injuries will be minimal this year.  About 40% of the most common firewords-related injuries (burns and laceration to the hands, face and head) occur to children younger than 15 years of age. Safety data shows the 30-day period surrounding July 4th tends to have the most firework-related emergency room visits and reports of injury – about 1,900 and 6,300 respectively in 2010.
That being said, we wish you all a very happy (and safe!) Independence Day filled with good people, good food, and hopefully some good “boom booms.”

by MaryAlexa Divver

Stephanie Haller

http://blog.consumerbell.com/2011/06/22/safety-tips-to-launching-your-own-fireworks-this-fourth-of-july/