Fireworks are among the most popular ways to celebrate some holidays, but when people forget basic fireworks safety rules, an evening of fun and great aerial displays can end up with a night in the hospital, or worse.
Step 1
Remove all flammables from the area 10-15 feet around the designated area, Ideally, fireworks should be done on a large slab of concrete or asphalt, such as a driveway or other barren area. (NOTE: to keep from discoloring the concrete, you may wish to place a cinder block on the concrete from which the fireworks will be launched.)
Step 2
Establish a well defined area into which only ONE person will enter to set up and light the fireworks. This is much safer than 3 or 4 people huddling around to light a single item. When one person is in charge, only one person has to evacuate the area after lighting the firework, not a half dozen.
Step 3
Children should not handle, play with, or light fireworks. All fireworks should be lit by adults.
Step 4
Never approach a firework until 45 seconds to one minute have passed since its last activity. A firework that has been lit can have a problem causing part of the charge to explode several seconds after the last charge, and you do not want to be near it when it does.
Step 5
Never try to manufacture your own fireworks. Legal Store purchased fireworks were assembled by professionals who fully understand what can and cannot be done to the ingredients, and while some ingredients are primarily for filler, there is ALWAYS an element that is potent and should be handled by professional fireworks makers. Not only is home manufacture of fireworks illegal, but it places you and your loved ones in needless danger.
Step 6
Keep a bucket of water and/or a water hose within easy reach, and make sure the hose is long enough to reach 10 feet beyond the fireworks.
Step 7
Never allow fireworks to be discharged within a building. Outside is always the safer place. (Aside from obvious fire concerns, the sharp pops and cracks that even small fireworks can produce may lead to long term hearing problems when set off in enclosed spaces.)
Step 8
Never assume the fireworks are going to behave exactly as planned. While the bottle rocket may be designed to go up, it could fall over at the last second and go off horizontally.
Step 9
Never hold a lit firework in your hand. Even a soda can is greatly superior to holding the item in hand. There are a number of clearly documented cases of fingers and hands being blown off by fireworks that were used improperly.
Step 10
When lighting fireworks, always move away slowly. Firework fuses are designed to give a little time between lighting and ignition, it is ill advised to run away as you could trip and fall.
Step 11
Always verify that the firework remains are 100% cold before placing them in a trashcan. If you plan to have fireworks before a barbecue, perhaps you could wait until after the food is gone to clean up the fireworks.
Step 12
Never relight a dud. If the firework did not do anything, you must assume that it is still going to do something. If a firework fails to make any action whatsoever, it is advisable to wait 5 minutes before attempting to remove it. Normally, if it were going to do anything, within five minutes, it would have done it.
Tips
- Even the sparklers that you often see children playing with can reach temperatures upwards of 3000 degrees Fahrenheit and can inflict horrible burns to faces, hands and clothing. Never underestimate the power of fireworks.
- Animals are especially susceptible to the loud pops and bangs of fireworks, and can run from the noise, injuring themselves. Take into consideration your little furry friends and when you plan to do fireworks, maybe you should consider doing so in an area that won't place your pet too near the noise.
- Keep in mind, fireworks are better seen from a distance, make sure that family and friends are several yards away, and out of danger.
Warnings
- NEVER combine Alcohol and Fireworks. Fireworks are dangerous enough without impaired judgment further complicating matters.
- No matter how small, fireworks can reach astoundingly high temperatures, much higher than you could estimate. Keep all flammables and people well outside the area of ignition.
- Small children love fireworks, but you need to remember, the hearing of a child is precious, and you should try to position the child a good distance away from the noise.
