Fireworks Safety at Home

The Fourth of July is one of America's most popular holidays. American's celebrate becoming an independent country, their individualism and their liberties. It's a day of fun and festive activities for all ages. Keeping safe during this holiday is probably one of the last things on a patriotic American's mind, but it's important to remember safety rules. Shooting off fireworks has always been a tradition on American holidays, especially the Fourth of July. There are a few guidelines that everyone should know.

Fireworks and kids. While kids love fireworks, sometimes these two aren't a good mix. Always make sure there is an adult present when shooting off fireworks, and never give fireworks to young children. Kids are more interested in having fun then worrying about safety issues. Make sure all fireworks that are purchased are safe to handle, legal and come from reliable vendors. Never make your own fireworks. Fireworks are made from gun powder. A professional is required to handle such materials in a safe manner. While sparklers are a favorite pleaser for the younger crowd, never give them to small children as they are likely to try to touch the flame and burn themselves or drop it or worse touch someone else with it. It can be difficult to imagine, but these little beauties are like matches and can start fires. Always make sure fireworks viewers are a safe distance away. Kids especially might want to be close to the set off point, make sure they are far enough away that if the firework misfires or if the debris lands nearby they will not be in harms way. Snappers and poppers, always a kiddie favorite should be handled only by older children or adults. Children handling these types of fireworks should be aware of safety rules. Though these little trinkets don't seem dangerous, they can still leave serious burns if not handled properly or thrown at another person. They can also cause flammable items to catch on fire. These types of fireworks should be considered as dangerous as a high powered bb gun.

Always keep a water source handy. A garden hose or bucket for emergency purposes should be easily accessible during a fireworks display. Always wait at least five minutes before disposing of a dud and soak it in water before throwing it away to make sure it won't light and fire off or injure someone. Treat fireworks that don't go off like dud bullets from a gun. Wear leather gloves or other heat resistant hand gear when handling dud fireworks. Always have an adult handle dud fireworks. Sparklers should also be soaked in a bucket of water before being disposed of properly.

Shooter safety is also important. Always have the shooter wear protective eye gear when shooting off fireworks in case of a misfire or debris from a firework. Never hold any part of your body over a firework even when lighting it. Do not use home made devices to shoot fire works such as home made bottle rocket launchers or home made "cannons" (Bubba). These devices have not been tested for industry standards and can be very dangerous. The shooter should also stand a safe distance away to avoid falling debris after shooting a firework. Always light only one firework at a time. Always shoot fireworks outdoors in a wide open area, this way debris can safely fall to the ground and eliminate fire risks. Shooting fireworks in these conditions also eliminates the need to hunt down where the firework landed and shooters can see where the firework goes. Never point or shoot fireworks at another person, vehicles, animals or buildings. This can cause serious injury or damage. Shooters should also wear protective clothing. Flame retardant clothing that is not too loose is a good choice. Jeans or long pants as well as something covering the arms but not loose to avoid burns from sparks that may shoot off from the fireworks.

Another important things to consider when planning an at home fireworks display are the laws concerning fireworks in your state or local area. Always check with your local police department before planning a fireworks display. Even if your local area allows fireworks to be shot off in an urban area, there may be restrictions due to weather conditions such as extremely dry weather etc. For a general guide to state rules check with the National Council of fireworks safety. Their state regulation guidelines can be found on the internet at this URL: http://www.fireworksafety.com/laws.htm .

With planning and forethought, at home fireworks displays can be fun for the entire family. Safety concerns can be avoided and everyone can enjoy a patriotic night of festivities.