BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – It can be very dangerous to use fireworks, according to new data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
In 2013 alone, 11,400 people suffered injuries and eight people died due to the unsafe use of fireworks in the United States.
No wonder that Birmingham-area public safety officials urge holiday revelers to leave the fireworks alone and enjoy Independence Day as spectators.
"The safest way to enjoy Fourth of July celebrations is by attending public fireworks displays conducted by professionals," according to a new release from Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service (BFRS).
In addition, the use of fireworks is illegal within the city limits of some communities, including Birmingham.
But if you insist on using fireworks, public safety officials – including the BFRS and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office (JCSO) – offer the following tips to help keep you and your family safe:
--Use fireworks outdoors only.
--Never let children handle fireworks. Use common sense.
--Only persons over the age of 12 should be allowed to handle sparklers of any type. The tip of a sparkler burns at a temperature of more than 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, hot enough to cause third-degree burns.
--Never aim fireworks or bottle rockets at people, structures or vegetation.
--Ignite fireworks on flat concrete surfaces; avoid grassy areas and brush.
--Always have water handy, and a hose and a bucket.
--Soak used fireworks in a bucket of water.
--Only use fireworks as intended. Don't try to alter them or combine them.
--Never relight a "dud" firework. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
--Spectators should keep a safe distance from the shooter, and the shooter should wear safety glasses.
--Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. Have a "designated shooter."
--Do not ever use homemade fireworks made from illegal explosives.
And the JCSO offers an important reminder -- gunfire is not considered fireworks.
"Never discharge a firearm in to the air as part of a celebration," the JCSO says in a news release.
In addition to the risk of personal injury, the improper use of fireworks can cause fires. In fact, more fires are reported in Birmingham on July 4 than on any other day of the year, and fireworks account for more than half of those fires, according to the BFRS.
Most fireworks-related fires begin in brush or trash and spread to wooded areas, homes and automobiles, and other fires start when fireworks, such as bottle rockets, land on roofs and ignite combustibles, the BFRS says.
For more news from Birmingham, go to www.al.com/birmingham.