Play it safe during the fireworks season

Though fireworks can be exciting, festive and fun, people are reminded that fireworks can also be very dangerous. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports, on average, 180 people go to the emergency room every day, with fireworks-related injuries in the month around the July 4 holiday.

An estimated 57 percent of those injuries, are burns. The majority of injuries from fireworks occur to the hands or fingers, legs, face and eyes. It’s recommended the handling of fireworks be left to experts specially trained and certified.

If a member of the public decides to use fireworks, the following practices can help keep everyone safe:

• Make sure fireworks are legal in the area, before buying or using them.

• Never allow children to play with, or ignite, fireworks. Young children can suffer injuries from sparklers, which burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees, which is 20 times the boiling point of water and is hot enough to melt some metals. As a safe alternative to sparklers, use glow sticks.

• Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy, in case of fire or other mishap.

• Never place any part of the body directly over a firework when lighting the fuse. Back up to a safe distance, immediately after lighting a firework (only light one at a time).

• Never carry fireworks in a pocket, or shoot them from metal or glass containers.

• Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully.

• Soak all spent fireworks in a bucket of water before throwing them in the trash can. Never discard fireworks, including used ones, in a fire pit.

• Avoid buying fireworks packaged in brown paper. This is often a sign they were made for professional use only.

If someone is injured by a firework and in need of emergency care, call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room immediately.