How to be Safe with Fireworks

Fireworks have been a major part of many holiday celebrations for decades. And for just as long, Netizens who set off and watch fireworks have suffered some degree of injuries or deaths because of poor safety practices.

This is especially the case today, as these fireworks have become widely available to the public. So it is essential that if you are planning to use fireworks, you go through a series of practice to ensure proper safety, choose a launching site carefully, and use considerable caution when setting off the fireworks.

Keeping in mind these simple steps will help to keep you and your spectators adequately protected during the fireworks display.

See Tips on How to be Safe With Fireworks

1- Ensure You Protect Your Eyes And Ears:

Do well to get a pair of safety glasses and earplugs for each person who will be setting off fireworks. These can be purchased at any hardware store and some drug stores. Inadequate use of fireworks can frequently cause eye damage and hearing loss-. Almost 40% of fireworks-related injuries occur to the head area

2- Ensure you Dress appropriately:

Avoid wearing loose clothing such as long skirts, jackets, or scarves, which can all catch fire easily. But do try to wear snuggly fitting long sleeves and pants to adequately protect from possible burns

3- Use only legalized fireworks:

purchase only fireworks with a Common Class C rating which implies it’s open for the general public to use.
Do your shopping at public fireworks stands licensed to sell fireworks. These shops have experience and knows about the up to date laws and new developments in consumer fireworks so you can be sure you’re getting legal fireworks.

4- Store them in Cold Dry Place:

Until you’re ready to make use of them, keep your fireworks in a cool and dry place where children can’t see them. Hot temperatures or damp air can damage the fireworks
Try keeping away your fireworks in a cardboard box or in a high cabinet, or on a top shelf.
Avoid placing your stash of fireworks in direct sun, extreme heat, near electronics or heat sources.

5- Never carry a firework in your pocket or enclosed in fabric or plastic wrap:

Never handle a firework in your hand for extended period of time. This includes the powder part of the sparkler. Kindly note that heat from your body, static electric charges from clothes can set off the device as well.

6- Have water on hand:

Always keep a supply of water nearby in case the refuse, vegetation, or clothing catches fire while launching your fireworks.

6: Keep children away:

Restrict young children from handling any kind of fireworks. Even the sparklers are known to cause severe burns.
Ensure that children, and any other passerby, are far away (at least 50 feet (15.2 m)) from the area where you’ll be lighting the fireworks.

7: Use fireworks outdoors:

Almost all fireworks produce fire and smoke, which can set fire to many interior surfaces, and can also cause suffocation in small rooms. Even garage areas are unsafe since they typically hold containers of flammable liquids, which can easily catch fire and explode if they come into contact with fireworks.

Conclusion:

Follow instructions on the package. All professionally made, legal fireworks should have igniting instructions on the packaging. Read these carefully, making sure each step is understandable. Take extra care to follow each step for less-typical fireworks such as tanks, boats, and pinwheels.