Sparklers Not Illegal in Chicago

You may have heard buzz around town that sparklers are illegal in the city of Chicago. According to the the Chicago Tribune, the City Council voted in 2005 to advance a bill that would outlaw sparklers. The ban on sparklers was proposed after a small child suffered a sparkler-related injury.

The City of Chicago website reports that sparklers are not considered to be fireworks, and therefore not banned in the city. So, sparklers are perfectly legal to enjoy this Fourth of July in Chicago. The failed attempt to ban sparklers, combined with misinformation on the Internet, likely contributed to the confusion over whether the devices are OK to use. You are not allowed to set off firecrackers, Roman candles, or skyrockets without a permit. Snake pellets, glow worm pellets, poppers and sparklers are not banned.

Just because sparklers are legal does not mean they are safe. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission cautions that sparklers can burn at temperatures of 2,000 degrees. The injury that prompted the sparkler ban attempt was caused by one child throwing a sparkler on another child's shoe. This Fourth of July, keep these safety tips in mind to keep yourself and your family safe:

* Fireworks, including sparklers, can be dangerous and should only be used by children under close supervision of an adult. Never allow children to ignite fireworks.

* Keep a bucket of water handy in case of emergencies. If a child drops a sparkler on himself or others, a bucket of water could mean the difference between just a scare and second- or third-degree burns.

* Never point fireworks at other people. Certainly do not throw fireworks at others. This advice goes for children as well as adults. It is never safe to aim fireworks at a living creature.

* Avoid trash fires by soaking used fireworks and sparklers in water before throwing them away.

* Never put sparklers in your mouth.

The best advice for fireworks safety is to let the professionals set off the fireworks. You can enjoy the fireworks show this Fourth of July at Navy Pier in Chicago. The event starts at 9 p.m. and admission is free.