5 Tips for Firework Safety

The 4th of July is honestly such a fun holiday. No matter what your political beliefs are, you can’t deny that barbecues, parades, fairs, and fireworks make for a fantastic day.

When I was growing up, my family lit our own fireworks at home. The fireworks were expensive, so it was basically the same thing as burning money, but It looked way cooler. One thing I learned, though, was that fun can quickly become dangerous if you’re not careful. Over the years, our carelessness resulted in burns on our hands, and once, a fire in the neighbor’s tree.

So while you’re out celebrating today, remember to be safe Here are some important tips on safe firework use to keep in mind (courtesy of the Utah state fire marshal).

1. Be Prepared

The fire department recommends storing all fireworks out of the reach of children. Kids are curious, and when they see bright packaging they may want to play. There’s also something about fire that fascinates children. So make sure you have a safe place to store your fireworks.

Have some water nearby. If a firework is going bad, you’ll want to be able to put it out quickly, so keep your garden hose handy in case it's needed.

Read the label on your fireworks for proper handling instructions. While it may seem like fireworks are pretty intuitive, small things like how to correctly place your fireworks may help to prevent injury.

Put your pets inside before lighting fireworks. Dangerous situations can result from dogs becoming spooked by the loud noises and bright lights of some fireworks.

2. Be Responsible

When you get to the end of your firework show, have a bucket of water nearby. Place all fireworks in the water to snuff out any sparks that may still be burning.

Dispose of firework debris properly. Once your fireworks are soaked, wrap them in plastic bags and put them in your trash can. Plastic bags can prevent your fireworks from drying out.

If a firework doesn’t go off, don’t relight it. Wait 20 minutes, then soak the firework in water and dispose of it.

3. Be Safe

Make sure your fireworks are legal in your state. In states with drier climates, some fireworks may be banned due to the risk of fires.

Do not allow children to light fireworks. Adults should light all fireworks and move back quickly. If you have children watching fireworks, keep them far enough away from the fireworks that they will not be hurt.

Only ignite fireworks outdoors, and keep fireworks away from grassy areas. Lighting your fireworks on a level concrete surface will help to prevent them from falling over and shooting at you.

Light one firework at a time. It’s tempting to light multiple, but the fuses aren’t long enough to get to a safe distance if you’re lighting the fuse multiple fireworks at a time.

Do not throw or point fireworks at others. It seems obvious, but especially fireworks like bottle rockets should not be pointed at others.

4. Be Aware

Know what kinds of fireworks are legal in your area, and only light them in legal areas. Do not light fireworks in any state parks, as doing so is illegal, dangerous, and may lead to fires.

You may consider keeping a fire extinguisher on hand, wherever you choose to light your fireworks. Make sure that you have the correct type of fire extinguisher, though.

Fireworks related injuries are most common on the part of your body that is closest to the firework, such as hands, face, and eyes. While emergency room admissions due to firework injuries are low, they tend to increase a lot around the 4th of July.

5. Have Fun!

Following safe firework procedures doesn’t mean you can’t have a good time. This 4th, light as many fireworks as you want, and enjoy spending time with your friends and family.

A Quick Note

If you’re going out of town for the holiday, and you’re worried about the risk of house fires, now is the perfect time to order your monitored smoke/CO detector from Cove! Professionally monitored fire detection can mean the difference between saving your home and getting there too late.

Cove's monitored smoke detector connects to 6 monitoring stations, staffed by fully-trained professionals. In an emergency, we send help 3-4 minutes faster than other security providers, saving your home valuable time.