The Fourth of July weekend is coming up! If your family plans to celebrate by watching a traditional firework display after dark, make sure children enjoy the show from a safe distance and be mindful of the following safety tips to keep the “oohs and aahs” from turning into “ows and oh noes!”:

1. Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.
2. Avoid buying fireworks that are packaged in brown paper. This is often a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays only and could therefore be more dangerous.
3. Only use fireworks outside and away from buildings.
4. Do not use fireworks while intoxicated.
5. Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities, including sparklers.
6. Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
7. Never carry fireworks in your clothes pockets.
8. Never place any part of your body directly over a firework device when lighting the fuse.
9. Don’t ignite fireworks from metal or glass containers.
10. Light fireworks one at a time, then move back immediately to a safe distance. Keep yourself and spectators 35 feet from ground fireworks. The perimeter for aerial fireworks is ideally 150 feet.
11. Never try to relight or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully.
12. Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire.
13. After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent device with plenty of water before discarding it to prevent a trash fire.
14. Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
15. Protect your pets from fireworks. Keep them inside with closed windows and blinds. Remember, they find sounds from fireworks to be stressful. Turn on the TV or play music to minimize the loud bangs.

In 2021, U.S. emergency departments treated more than 11,500 people for injuries from fireworks. That is a 25% increase since the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission started tracking fireworks-related injuries in 2006. Let’s start bringing that number down and ensure that our Fourth of July celebrations are safe and enjoyable for everyone.

Dr. Melissa Schultz is an emergency physician and Director of Medical Education at Hendricks Regional Health.

Sources:

• https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/news/2022/06/30/10-tips-firework-safety
• https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Fireworks
• https://www.chp.edu/injury-prevention/safety/holiday-and-seasonal/fireworks
• https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2022/New-CPSC-Report-Shows-Significant-Upward-Trend-in-Fireworks-Related-Injuries-Over-the-Past-15-Years