The Fourth of July weekend is coming up! This means baseball, parades, and lots of fireworks! In the midst of fun and games, it is important to also be safe. A basic sparkler can easily reach 2,000 degrees--hot enough to melt some metals.

In the month surrounding the 4th of July, an average of 240 people go to the emergency room EVERY DAY with firework-related injuries. 22% of those injuries were to the face or ears.

NEVER:

• Never use fireworks in brown paper packages. This is often a sign that the firework was made for professional displays and not consumer use. 
• Never carry fireworks in a pocket. 
• Never stand directly over fireworks when lighting the fuse. Back up to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks. 
• Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully. 
• Never point or throw fireworks at another person. 
• Never allow young children to play with or light fireworks. 
• Never shoot them off in metal or glass containers. 

ALWAYS:

• Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities. 
• Always keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap. 
• Always light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly. 
• Always douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding it to prevent a trash fire. 
• Always make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them. 

Have a safe, patriotic weekend! For more information on fireworks safety, visit

• http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Fireworks/
• http://fireworkssafety.org/

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