It is hard to tell someone not to be stupid. They think they know better. Is it any wonder that 60% of all fireworks accidents happen to people under the age of 25? Tragically, 10 percent happen to those under five years old. Men are a bit more stupid than women – 75% of the accidents happen to the male gender — that means that there are a lot of women out there who are a bit daft when it comes to these accidents.
Those sparklers – they can reach temperatures of over 2000 degrees F. My little five year old loves sparklers – and it is so tempting to put your hand over those pretty flames.
The larger fireworks have blown off body parts. Last year two NFL players lost fingers — imagine that, you have million dollar hands and you risk them for fireworks?
Getting to close to professional fireworks can be dangerous too – every year some major accident happen and innocent onlookers can be injured.
Simple rules: fireworks and alcohol don’t mix. Kids shouldn’t handle them.
Kids and dogs – fireworks are fascinate one and terrify the other. Please keep fireworks away from both.
But also – watch out for the dogs – they hate the loud noises. Keep them inside, because every year someone loses a family pet. The dogs become scared of the noise and run.
My advice – but I am older — leave the fireworks to the professionals.
Follow these safety tips when using fireworks:
- Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
- Avoid buying fireworks that are packaged in brown paper because 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. Parents don’t realize that young children suffer injuries from sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees – hot enough to melt some metals.
- 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.
- After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding it to prevent a trash fire.
