Firework Safety Month

6/1/2022 (Permalink)

June is firework safety month.  According to the National Fire Protection Association, “Fireworks caused an estimated 19,500 fires in 2018, including 1,900 structure fires, 500 vehicle fires, and 17,100 outside and other fires.  Five deaths resulted from fireworks-started fires, along with 46 civilian injuries, and $105 million in direct property damage.” And this doesn’t include the injuries the fireworks themselves directly cause to individuals.  According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, each year 10,000 people are injured due to fireworks.  In 2017 alone, 12,900 individuals were injured, with eight people dying.  About 50% of all reported injuries are of children and young adults under 20.  Out of this, 45% of the affected children are under the age of 14.”  

With numbers like these it’s easy to see why it’s probably best to leave the fireworks displays up to the professionals.  But if you are going to use fireworks this summer, here are some safety tips from the National Safety Council:

• 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 lighted 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