Safe Firework 4th Of July Tips: Lakeland Fire Department

LAKELAND, FL — Even though fireworks shows in Lakeland and surrounding Tampa Bay areas have been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Lakeland Fire Department offers safety tips for residents who will light consumer fireworks, as well as safe alternatives to fireworks.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, U.S. fire departments responded to an annual average of 18,500 fires caused by fireworks. Nearly half (47 percent) of the fires reported on Independence Day in the U.S. in 2019 were started by fireworks, more than any other cause of fire that day.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports there were 10,000 injuries nationwide in 2019, and 12 of out of those were fatal.

"Each year, thousands of people are injured from using consumer fireworks and some of those injuries are extremely serious," Fire Marshal Cheryl Edwards said in a news release. "Even sparklers, which are often thought of as harmless enough for children to hold, burn at 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit and can cause significant injuries."

The Lakeland Fire Department said that fireworks malfunctions and improper use are associated with the most injuries. Injuries frequently happen due to users playing with lit fireworks or igniting fireworks while holding the device. Children under age 5 experienced a higher estimated per capita injury rate than any other age group. Too often users feel comfortable handing off fireworks to children that are perceived to be less powerful, such as sparklers. Sparklers account for more than 40 percent of all estimated firework related injuries.

The Lakeland Fire Department offers these safety tips:

• Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks, including sparklers.
• Always have an adult close by to supervise fireworks activities.
• Never place any part of your body directly over a firework's device when lighting the fuse.
• Back up to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.
• Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.
• Never try to relight or handle malfunctioning fireworks. Soak them with water and discard.
• Never point or throw fireworks at another person. 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 the device to prevent a trash fire.

For safe alternatives to fireworks, the fire department recommends these options:

• Glow sticks
• Bubbles
• Silly string ribbon
• Wands
• Balloons
• Party crackers
• Patriotic pinwheels
• Patriotic arts and crafts
• Watching a virtual display online