Fireworks safety

  • Published
  • By Steven Trekas
  • 412th Test Wing Weapons Safety Office
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  With the summer season here, it will be time to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday this weekend. Many of us celebrate by taking time off work, grilling outdoors, and watching fireworks displays.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, of the thousands of people who were treated in emergency departments for fireworks related injuries, the highest injury rates occurred in children 10-14. A majority of those injuries involved the hands, fingers, eyes, and legs. Some of these injuries resulted in missing fingers, limbs, and even vision loss.

While more than one-third of fireworks related deaths involved illegal fireworks sold to consumers, firecrackers, sparklers, and rockets were associated with the most injuries treated in emergency departments.

The safest approach to enjoying fireworks and preventing injuries is to visit public fireworks displays. These are conducted by trained professionals who know how to properly handle fireworks.

If you choose to celebrate by using your own fireworks, here are some important safety tips to remember:

1. Never let children play with fireworks
2. Buy only legal fireworks
3. Keeps pets indoors
4. Never make your own fireworks
5. Always have water nearby
6. Wear protective eyewear
7. Never use fireworks indoors
8. Only light 1 firework at a time
9. Never relight a dud firework
10. For emergency eye injury, do not rub or wash out the eye. Instead, call 911.

For more information on fireworks safety, please visit the following websites:

"Celebrate safely: Fireworks safety activity book for children"

http://www.wsp.wa.gov/fire/docs/fireworks/kids/actvbook.pdf

Kids Health

http://kidshealth.org/en/teens/fireworks.html