Keeping Children Safe When Using Fireworks
For Immediate Release: June 30, 2004
Contact: Vermont Department of Health
BURLINGTON, VT – Many Vermonters use fireworks to celebrate the Fourth of July. Fireworks can be a fun part of family and community traditions but without careful supervision, they can become dangerous to both adults and children.
For those who choose to use them, here are some tips that parents can take to increase the safety of using fireworks.
Read and follow all warnings and instructions on the package.
- Older children should only be permitted to use sparklers under close adult supervision. Do not allow them to run or play with them.
- Be sure that others are out of the way when lighting fireworks.
- Only light fireworks outdoors, away from the house, dry leaves and other flammable materials.
- Never try to re-light sparklers.
- Always keep a bucket of water available in case of fire.
- Put used fireworks in a bucket of water and discard when cool.
About 50 percent of people injured by fireworks in the U.S. are children ages 14 years and younger. Firework injuries are most commonly associated with sparklers, firecrackers and rockets.
More than half of the injuries caused by fireworks involve burns, usually on the hands, fingers, eyes, head and face. Misused fireworks can also cause life threatening residential fires.
Vermonters should only use fireworks that are legal in Vermont. These include sparklers and novelty sparkling items, smoke bombs or smoke devices, snakes and snappers. Firecrackers, bottle rockets, and other illegal fireworks are especially dangerous to children.