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How to Have Fun with Fireworks
Okay, that was a trick headline because the only way to have fun with fireworks is to be safe. No one ever enjoyed a holiday that ended tragically, so follow some simple, common sense rules from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. Here are some ideas on what you can do.Fireworks Safety Tips: Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks. Avoid buying fireworks that are packaged in brown paper because this is often a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and that they could pose a danger to consumers. Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities. Parents don't realize that young children suffer injuries from sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees - hot enough to melt some metals. Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device 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. Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap. Light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly. Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers. After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding it to prevent a trash fire. Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them. Use this link for a poster of Fireworks Safety CPSC's tips to ensure your holiday remains festive and safe."Safety Promotion Ideas from the CPSC Organizations and Individuals Distribute the tips where parents and other caregivers are found, such as Child care centers Community centers Malls Clinics and doctors' offices Local fairs, safety events and other events Swimming pools Sporting events, such as kids' baseball, soccer, and football games Encourage and participate in local safety events Set up fireworks safety exhibit, booth Include fireworks safety in local safety events Contact local media to cover events that include fireworks safety Enlist the support of local merchants as partners to: Post the safety tips at checkouts and on bulletin boards Distribute the safety tips handouts to customers Put the safety tips on their shopping bags Reprint the safety tips handout, with their name on it, for customers Contribute money to local groups to reprint the safety tips Organizations Tell your public Hold a news conference Get local radio and TV to cover fireworks safety Issue a news release to local media Prepare talking points for officials' speeches Include the safety tips in your newsletters, magazines Promote the tips and handout at your conferences and meetings; encourage attendees to do the same in their communities Put safety tips on your hotline, recorded phone messages, electronic bulletin board Prepare radio PSAs Use the Internet Post a feature on fireworks safety on your web site Link to the CPSC web site's fireworks safety page Tell others how to get to CPSC's web site Have fun and please celebrate safely.