TAKE THE FIRE OUT OF FIREWORKS



Festive seasons is a time for celebration, and to be enjoyed. Unfortunately, however, the this seasons presents the greatest fire risk to the citizens of our land. Nationally, thousands of people are injured, property damage is in the millions, and hundreds of acres of wildlands are burned and destroyed due to the unsafe use and handling of fireworks.

Following are some simple guidelines can make your holiday safer:

  1. Use only legal (Safe and Sane) fireworks and use them only where they are allowed. Forest areas and national parks do not allow any fireworks.
  2. Have an adult light the fireworks. Supervise children closely around fireworks. Children, ages 10 to 14, are most at risk. On average, males suffer nearly 3 times the risk of incurring an injury.
  3. Use fireworks only in approved open areas and on flat, firm surfaces which are clear of combustible materials.
  4. Do not hold lighted fireworks in your hand! Remember, that display you just watched is hot. Allow it time to cool before picking it up. Have a bucket of water handy to throw sparklers and other used fire works into before disposing of them. (The heat of a sparkler can reach 1800 degrees)
  5. Before you have your family celebration, read the warning labels and follow instructions carefully.
  6. If a lighted fire work goes out or does not burn properly, do not return immediately to check it. After 5 minutes have gone by, carefully approach and then place the fire work into the bucket of water. Do not attempt to reignite the fuse.
  7. Know how to cool a burn (in cool water). Learn first aid. Children most often sustain burns to the hands, fingers and eyes.
  8. Always keep fireworks, matches and lighters out of the reach of small children. Never let them play with fireworks.

When using fireworks things can go wrong very fast. Children can get hurt quickly. They not only like to watch, but they also want to touch, feel and light the fireworks. It is possible to celebrate and enjoy the holiday without your own fireworks. Take the family and a picnic dinner to a local public firework display conducted by a certified, licensed pyrotechnician. These people are trained in the proper use of fireworks and give a safe, yet exciting, show.

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