Fireworks Safety Tips

7/1/2020 (Permalink)

This diagram shows you the most common locations of fireworks related injuries.

Fireworks and holidays such as New Years Eve and 4^th of July go hand in hand.  While enjoying the festivities it is important to always take safety precautions when handling fireworks.  Each year nearly 9000 people are treated for some type of fireworks related injury according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.  Nearly 62% of those injuries occur in a one-month period running from June 22-July 22.  If you do plan on lighting up the sky at your holiday party, here are some tips you can follow to avoid injury:

• Never let young children play with, or light fireworks.
• Avoid fireworks packaged in brown paper.
• Make sure that there is always adult supervision when using fireworks.
• Exercise caution when using sparklers. (Sparkles can burn at temperatures up to 2000 degrees)
• Never attempt to relight a firework that did not fully ignite.
• Keep a bucket of water close by while shooting fireworks.
• Light fireworks one at a time and move away quickly.
• Don’t carry fireworks in pockets or shoot them from glass or metal containers.
• After shooting fireworks, make sure to cover any remnants/smoldering embers with water.

The most common areas injured are the face, hands and legs; accounting for over 50% of all injuries. In addition to bodily harm, fireworks cause roughly 18,500 fires each year.  At SERVPRO of Mobile County, we are always Here to Help should your home or business ever be affected by fire.  We are always just a phone call away at 251-343-0534.