With the Fourth of July only a few days away, it’s important to remember the importance of protecting yourself, and your property, from the adverse effects of fireworks. Although the holiday is a day to enjoy family, the outdoors and great food, more fires are reported on that day in the U.S. than any other day of the year. More than half of these fires are caused by fireworks. The good news is you can enjoy your holiday, and the fireworks, with these safety tips.
- Leave fireworks to the professionals—do not use consumer fireworks which may be defective and unreliable
- Be sure to maintain a safe distance between yourself and any private or public firework displays—this is true of your home and other property as well
- After the firework display, children should never pick up fireworks that may be left over, they may still be active
Just because fireworks are now legal in Michigan, it doesn’t mean they are any less dangerous. Keep these facts in mind this fourth when you’re considering how you’re going to celebrate Independence Day.
- Each July Fourth thousands of people, most often children and teens, are injured while using consumer fireworks
- The risk of fireworks injury was two-and-a-half times as high for children ages 10-14 as for the general population
- The tip of a sparkler burns at 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit—more than enough heat to cause third degree burns
- Approximately 37% of firework-related injuries occur to the head
Learn more about these facts and other fireworks safety information provided by the National Fire Protection Association at www.nfpa.org.
