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It's an American summer tradition that's right up there
with backyard barbecues, baseball and apple pie: lighting fireworks. Every
summer, as Memorial Day gives way to the 4
th of July, fireworks sales
all over the country ramp up and people from coast-to-coast put on their own
little fireworks displays. It's also the time of year when hospitals see a
dramatic increase in people being admitted to the emergency room with serious
burns and other firework-related injuries.
That's because as fun as they
are to light, and as pretty and colorful as they look when they ignite, they are
equally as dangerous, especially if you're not following the proper safety
precautions when you use them. Since fireworks are much more fun to use when you
use them safely and since the goal of all holiday festivities is to avoid a
hospital visit, it's important to be aware of the proper safety measures that
you should take when handling fireworks.
That's why it's always a smart
idea to follow any and all useful safety tips for handling and lighting
fireworks, and to acquaint yourself with some statistics about firework-use and
firework-related injuries in America. Also, fireworks are not legal in all areas
of the country, so before you set out to buy a batch for your 4
th of
July party, make sure that fireworks are legal where you live so you won't have
to worry about having the local law enforcement pay a visit and put a damper on
your holiday festivities.
How to stay safe when using fireworks
One thing to remember when
using fireworks is that no matter how colorful the box looks and how safe
everything appears to be, you're still dealing with explosives and materials
that are highly flammable and combustible. Handling them incorrectly or not
following proper instructions for lighting them can result in serious injury to
you and everyone around you as well. Here are some additional safety tips to
consider when using fireworks:
- Do not allow young children to use fireworks. This might go without
saying, but make sure that you keep all young children away from the fireworks.
We all know how naturally curious young children tend to be, and that goes
double when they're placed in the vicinity of things that can explode, so keep
the fireworks in a safe place where they can't be reached by children.
- Light fireworks in an open area. When igniting the fireworks, make
sure that you're in an open area and that the fireworks are kept at a safe
distance from any onlookers, as well as from the house and any other materials
that are flammable. Open fields tend to be the best place to set off fireworks
safely.
- Always follow instructions on the packaging. If your fireworks came
with directions on how to light them and how to properly use them, follow the
instructions and use caution at all times. If there were no safety instructions
on the packaging, then you probably bought the wrong fireworks and shouldn't use
them anyway.
- Always light one firework at a time and maintain a safe distance after
lighting each one. Don't hold any part of your body over the firework after
it has been lit and back away from the firework immediately after lighting.
Malfunctioning fireworks can shoot off in unexpected directions, so maintaining
a safe distance after lighting them can allow you some time to avoid injury in
case of any mishaps.
- If a firework does malfunction, don't attempt to relight it.
Sometimes, fireworks don't work the way they're intended to work, even after
they're lit. If that occurs, don't ever attempt to relight the firework. In case
of a malfunction, douse the firework in water and safely discard it, as you
would with any other firework that you have lit.
- Do not point fireworks in the direction of any person or object.
While this may seem like common sense to the average person, you'd be surprised
how many people forget this simple rule when lighting fireworks because they're
so wrapped up in the excitement of the moment, until they realize the firework
is pointed directly at a group of people. Always keep your fireworks away from
people and from houses and cars when you light them.
Legality of fireworks in the US
Fireworks are not legal
everywhere in the United States. Each individual state has their own laws
regarding the use and purchase of fireworks, and while some states have no
restrictions, others may allow only the use of sparklers and smaller fireworks,
while a few states don't allow any at all. Even further, many individual towns
and cities have separate fireworks laws that apply to that specific
municipality. How do you know where your state stands on fireworks? Here is the
breakdown of states based on where fireworks are legal and where they are not:
A total of 19 states have no restrictions on
fireworks, meaning that almost all types of consumer fireworks are legal to
purchase and use. These states are: AK, AL, AR, KS, LA, MO, MS, MT, ND, NE,
NM, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, WA, WY
- There are 20 states which allow fireworks that are considered "safe"
and usually only include small and contained fireworks. These states are: CA,
CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, IN, KY, MD, MI, MN, NC, NH, NV, OR, UT, VA, WI, WV and
Washington D.C.
- In only 6 states, you can use sparklers or other "novelty" fireworks.
These states are: AZ, IA, IL, ME, OH, VT
- The usage and purchase of fireworks are completely prohibited in these
5 states: DE, MA, NJ, NY, RI
More facts about fireworks and injury statistics
- Sparklers may seem like the tamest of all the different types of fireworks;
however this is far from the truth. In fact, sparklers can burn at temperatures
up to 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit. By comparison, glass melts at 900 degrees, wood
burns at 575 degrees and water boils at 212 degrees. The heat produced by
sparklers is enough to cause serious third degree burns if it comes in contact
with skin.
- Thousands of Americans are injured each year on the 4th of July due to
accidents involving fireworks. In fact, in the month leading up to the holiday,
almost 200 people are admitted to emergency rooms daily to be treated for
firework-related injuries.
- Of all of the firework-related injuries suffered by Americans each year,
almost 90% of those injuries involve the use of legal fireworks that consumers
are permitted to use. This is why it's always so important to exercise caution
at all times when using fireworks - because most firework-related injuries and
accidents are ultimately preventable.