In the summer of 2011, nearly 9,600 firework-related injuries were reported. To keep your firework display both safe and fun, the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) has compiled a few helpful tips from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC):
- Make sure that your fireworks comply with state and local regulations and codes.
- Avoid buying fireworks that are packaged in brown paper because this is often a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and that they could pose a danger to consumers.
- Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities. Parents don't realize that young children suffer injuries from sparklers. Sparklers can burn at temperatures hot enough to melt some metals.
- Never allow young children to play with or light fireworks.
- Retreat to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.
- Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully. Ignite fireworks one at a time.
- Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
- Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.
- After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding it to prevent a trash fire.
Additional firework safety information may be found at
http://www.cpsc.gov/onsafety/2012/06/cpsc-science-fireworks-injuries/. To hear more firework safety tips, please listen to the Firework Safety episode of “Safe & Sound.”