Forth of July - Fireworks Safety!!!

On this Independence Day some of us are out enjoying our families, cookouts, and Fireworks!!   I just ask that if you are going to enjoy fireworks please do so safely.  Ideally, you should leave fireworks up to the professionals and just go enjoy a public show. 

 If you do this, you still need to take some precautions. 1.  stay a safe distance from where they are lighting the fireworks off.  2. If you have small children or anyone with ear issues please make sure they have ear protection.  Fireworks are loud and they will not enjoy the show if they are in pain from their ears.  3. Please leave Animals at home, unless they are trained to deal with loud noises and flashing lights.  Most animals do not understand what is happening and they get scared. (Even at home, please bring animals in away from any fireworks that may be going off in your area.   Many animals get afraid. They may try to get away, and get possibly get lost).   4. Those with PTSD may not be able to handle fireworks and you should be ready to leave if it gets to be too much.

If you do set off fireworks at home, or go to someone's home that does- there are many of the same precautions you should take, plus some others.   1. Still need to stay a safe Distance.  - If you are the one lighting them use a "Punt" or long grill lighter so you are not right on top of the fireworks when lighting them.  2. Ear protection is still needed- maybe more-so since you will be closer than at a public show. 3. Make sure animals are kept away from the fireworks or put someplace safe.  (they not only may run off or be afraid, they may also try to grab the fireworks and cause a problem- Like knocking lit fireworks over.  4. You should make sure your neighbors and all people around are ok with fireworks. It is a good idea to continuously check on anyone who may have PTSD or certain disorders that may be triggered by loud noises or flashing lights.   6. Using mood or mind altering substances while lighting fireworks is not a good idea.  Your reflexes can be impaired, and that would not be good should something go wrong.  7. Fireworks  should be set off on a hard flat surface where there are no other flammable substances .  Grass and Gravel are not ideal, since it is unevern and the fireworks could tip over.   8. Only an Adult should be lighting the fireworks!!  Many firework accidents and injuries involve Kids under 10.   9.  Keep water, an extinguisher, or charged hose near fireworks incase they get out of hand. When finished, all shells, boxes, and duds need to be soaked down to make sure they aren't a danger, and disposed of.

Some general Fireworks safety Tips:  1.DO NOT let kids around fireworks unsupervised.   2. DO NOT let kids have sparklers.  They Burn at over 2,000 degrees!!  We don't let them play with hot things the rest of the year, why do we think it is ok on the 4th of July?  3. Do not set off fireworks if it is windy out.  4. DO NOT light fireworks while holding them!!   Bottle rockets are called bottle rockets becasue they should be launched from a bottle not your hand. 5. Make sure your clothing  is not flammable if you are lighting fireworks.  6. DO NOT try to relight a dud (one that did not go off)   7. Do not light Fireworks indoors.  8. Never point fireworks at someone. 

Be safe out there.  The Fourth of July is a Holiday to celebrate independence.  Let’s make sure no one sustains any injuries that could take that independence away.