Four tips for Fireworks Safety this 4th

6/30/2020 (Permalink)

The Fourth of July is one of the biggest holidays of the year. It perfectly captures summer season activities with hiking, boating, barbecuing, being out in the sun, and shooting off fireworks. This upcoming weekend is sure to be full of fun outdoors and with friends and family, even as we are still in the midst of COVID-19. To make sure it stays full of fun, here are four safety tips to enjoy the holiday to the fullest.

Keep Sparklers Away from Children

Although they are advertised as the perfect children’s firework, sparklers are not safe for children to be waiving around. As they burn at over 2,200 degrees they are susceptible to light clothing on fire and severely burn anything that is accidentally touched. Over 25% of all emergency visits from fireworks are caused by sparklers and for children under 5 they account for almost half of all injuries.

Be Prepared for the Worst

There is an assumption that an accident caused from fireworks are from mishandling or from a lack of common sense and that “It would never happen to me.” This is a dangerous mindset to have as fireworks are extremely unpredictable and even the best experts in the world have malfunctions occasionally. This is why you should have equipment ready and waiting in case a firework does lead to an accident.

Materials to gather before lighting off the first rocket should include:

A bucket of water and/or garden hose, remember to soak used fireworks before disposal

• Shovels and rakes
• Fire Extinguisher
• First aid kit
• Burn cream

Use Your Best Judgement

Never forget, fireworks at their core are explosives and that means they should be taken seriously at all times. Don’t let someone who is consuming alcohol to handle fireworks. Likewise, don’t use any fireworks without clear instructions and only buy from legitimate fireworks dealers.

The Fourth of July should be a celebration and making sure fireworks are handled safely is the best way to make sure it is enjoyable.

Take Precautions for COVID

Independence day is a great holiday to have fun with health precautions. Having an outdoor celebration will allow natural social distancing, flow of air, and UV protection from sunlight. Enjoy the weekend, but make sure to keep everyone safe.

Have different people and groups prepare their own food. Don’t have a buffet style setup where everyone is touching and sharing the same food.

Pack cleaning supplies to make sure any high touch spots can be sanitized quickly.

Utilize the outdoors. Avoid long periods of time inside homes or garages and try and spend time in parks, backyards, and out on the water.

We hope everyone stays safe and has a wonderful 4^th of July weekend!