Although July 4th is commonly regarded as a day of fun and celebration, safety should be foremost on your mind in the leadup to Independence Day. This is particularly true if you’re planning on making fireworks part of the festivities. While fireworks can be effective tools for facilitating enjoyment, they can also be very dangerous if handled improperly. As such, anyone looking to have a memorable and incident free 4th of July is urged to avoid the following blunders.
Purchasing Fireworks You’re Not Qualified to Handle
No matter how confident you are in your ability to handle fireworks, you should avoid purchasing fireworks intended for large-scale professional displays. These fireworks pack a lot more firepower than the ones that are typically available to the general public and are ill-suited to small-scale gatherings and get-togethers. If you’re unclear on whether fireworks you’ve purchased are professional-grade, keep in mind that such fireworks can often be identified by brown paper packaging. In the interest of maximum safety, take care to reach out to the manufacturer if you have any questions about how powerful a firework is. Additionally, when buying roman candles and other commonplace fireworks, seek out products from manufacturers who are known for quality.
Standing Too Close to Lit Fireworks
After lighting a firework, it’s in your best interest to put as much distance between yourself and it as possible. The closer you stand to a lit firework, the more likely you are to be burned or come into direct contact with the blast. As such, you should don protective eyewear, avoid placing any part of your body directly over a firework when lighting it and require any guests to view the firework display from a safe distance.
Attempting to Re-light Fireworks
When it comes to fireworks, no one relishes dealing with duds. After all, if you and your guests have been eagerly anticipating an eye-catching lightshow, a firework failing to properly go off can come as a tremendous disappointment. Still, disappointment is no excuse for behaving in a reckless manner, and if a firework doesn’t go off, you should never attempt to re-light it.
It may turn out that the firework in question is simply taking longer than anticipated to go off. So, by attempting to re-light it, you’ll be placing yourself directly in harm’s way. Additionally, even if the firework turns out to be a dud, better safe than sorry. Instead of attempting to re-light it, douse it in water – and avoid getting too close while doing so – before disposing of it.
Failing to Take Fire Safety into Account
The adage “Plan for the best, but prepare for the worst” certainly holds true when it comes to the 4th of July. While you should do everything in your power to prevent fires and other firework-related mishaps, you should also have a plan of action for such emergencies. With this in mind, make a point of keeping a variety of fire-extinguishing aids on hand whenever you intend to shoot off fireworks. For example, a good hose, a large bucket of water and a fire-extinguisher can make short work of many types of fires and provide you with invaluable peace of mind.
Furthermore, before proceeding to dispose of any used fireworks, take care to thoroughly douse them with water. Even if a firework goes off as planned, there’s no guarantee that it’s fully finished igniting.
Allowing Children to Handle Fireworks
It’s only natural for parents to want their kids to have fun on the 4th of July, but allowing children to handle fireworks is a risk that simply isn’t worth taking. So, in addition to requiring your little ones to view fireworks from a safe distance, you should prohibit them from handling them altogether. Even seemingly harmless sparklers can facilitate serious injuries. If you absolutely insist on allowing older children to handle fireworks, make sure they are closely supervised.
Independence Day is among the most celebrated holidays in the United States. As such, there’s little wonder as to why block parties, backyard barbecues and various other gatherings are synonymous with the 4th of July. Furthermore, since fireworks often factor into these events, it’s in everyone’s best interest that proper safety precautions be embraced. A single lapse in judgment can result in fire, property damage, personal injury and a host of other undesirable consequences. So, if you intend to make fireworks a part of your Independence Day festivities, take care to avoid the mistakes outlined above.