10 Hot Tips for Fireworks Safety

When used as directed, fireworks can help make special occasions like the Fourth of July fun and memorable. If used improperly, however, they can cause serious burns, fires, traumatic amputations and even death.

"If people act responsibly with fireworks, they're really not a problem," Lt. Chuck Riesterer told Troy Patch, adding that residents who want to see fireworks "should go to a professional display."

Now that consumers , Riesterer said it's possible the number of injuries and fires caused by fireworks could go up.

"If you want to use fire crackers and bottle rockets and the mortars, what you need to remember is they are inherently dangerous because they leave the ground – they explode – and they don't always do what they're supposed to do."

Fireworks safety really just boils down to , Riesterer said.

Adult supervision required

So, who's most at risk for injury from fireworks? According to the National Fire Protection Association, it's kids ages 5-14.

"Each Fourth of July, thousands of people, most often children and teens, are injured while using consumer fireworks," the organization's website reads.

The best way to prevent injuries in children and teens, Riesterer said, is by supervising them at all times and leading by example.

"The law is clear – you can't let somebody under the age of 18 use them," Riesterer said. "So, demonstrate proper and safe practices using these devices."

Talking with children and going over safety rules and information is always a good idea, said Riesterer, who has two grown children. He added that one of the most dangerous fireworks for younger children is the seemingly innocuous sparkler, which burns at an average temperature of 1,200 degrees – hot enough to melt some metals.

Safety first

The American Pyrotechnics Association website also offers several fireworks safety tips from the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Council on Fireworks Safety, which recommend that consumers:

1. Always read and follow label directions
2. Always have an adult present
3. Only buy from – never experiment or attempt to make your own fireworks
4. Only ignite fireworks outdoors, light only one at a time and never reignite malfunctioning fireworks
5. Dispose of fireworks properly
6. Be sure to have water handy
7. Never give fireworks to small children
8. Store fireworks in a cool, dry place
9. Never throw fireworks at another person
10. Never carry fireworks in your pocket or shoot fireworks in metal or glass containers

Riesterer emphasized that, should a firework not go off properly, it should not be relit. Instead, it should be doused with water and left untouched for half an hour. Then, it may be picked up with a shovel and put into a bucket of water, where it should soak overnight before disposal.

"The one time you make that one mistake, it's life altering," Riesterer said. "That's what we want people to understand."

For more fireworks safety information, visit the USCPSC website.