Light Up the Night: Fireworks Safety

Something about fireworks in the summertime brings a community together. Every year thousands of people light up their own yards and streets with fireworks. In Mississippi, the stands are on every corner in the weeks leading up to the Fourth of July. We want your family to remember summer fireworks as a fun time, not that time dad or sister had to go to the ER. So before you light the fuse on your first Roman candle take a look at these fireworks safety standards.

• Never allow young children to handle fireworks
• Older children should use them only under close adult supervision
• Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol
• Anyone using fireworks or standing nearby should wear protective eyewear
• Pay attention to others lighting fireworks and steer clear of them
• Never hold lighted fireworks in your hands
• Never light them indoors
• Only use them away from people, houses and flammable material
• Never point or throw fireworks at another person even as a joke
• Never carry fireworks in your pocket, the friction could set them off
• Only light one device at a time and maintain a safe distance after lighting
• Never ignite devices in a glass or metal container
• Do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks
• Soak both spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding
• Keep a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don’t go off or in case of fire
• Never use illegal fireworks (legal fireworks have the manufacturer’s name and direction on them; illegal fireworks do not)
• Never try to make your own fireworks
• Keep pets indoors to reduce the risk they will run away or injure themselves trying to escape the noise
• Keep 500 feet from the launching pad
• Don’t pick up the debris immediately after shooting fireworks. The debris may still be hot or may reignite or explode at any time.
• Teach your children to stop, drop, and roll if they are hit by a firework and their clothing catches fire.

In case of injuries

For eye injuries:

• Don’t rub or touch the eye
• Don’t try to wash the eye or apply ointment
• Seek medical attentional immediately

For burns:

• Carefully clip any clothing away from the burn.
• Make sure the burn is clean and dry.
• If the burn is larger than the palm of your hand or affects the face, ears, toes or fingers, seek medical attention. 
• Apply cool water but avoid soaking the burn in ice. 
• Over-the-counter pain medications can be used to treat pain from the burn. 
• Small burns can be treated at home with antibiotic ointment or aloe. 
• Seek medical attention if the burns don’t heal.