Fireworks Safety Month

My mom always used to freak out over fireworks, not letting me near them—and making me want them all the more. Now that I’m a mom I get it, but I don’t want to completely ban them from my daughter’s life. We’ll take her to see professionally-done shows until she’s a teenager, and then… well, we’ll have to talk!

But fireworks safety isn’t limited to children. Adults need to play safe, too. Here are a few fireworks safety tips to keep your summer fun—and safe.

Keep water available. A bucket of water is good; a hose is even better. You never know when a fire could strike. Even if you feel competent and safe, some fireworks are simply faulty and can create a fire even when you think they are put out.

“Put out” your duds. Even if you think it’s not going to go off, it still can. Submerge it in water after twenty minutes or so. NEVER relight a dud! It can still go off—or still be in the process of going off, right in your hand.

Don’t shoot off fireworks when you are drunk, high, or otherwise not using your brain. This should be common sense!

Don’t “aim” at people, animals or property. Accidents happen even when you’re just “playing around.”

Don’t approach fireworks or the person lighting them. Stay a safe distance away.

Wear safety glasses. Would you rather look like a dork who’s safe or a dork who lost his eyes because he didn’t want to look like a dork?

After you light it, back away quickly. Don’t stand there and look up. Sure, it’s pretty—but the laws of gravity dictate that it will come back down!

Don’t set off fireworks in your house! This may sound silly, but people do it—and then regret it later.

Don’t let young children light fireworks. They are generally intended for children ages 12 and older. If you know your child isn’t ready, don’t let him or her set off fireworks. Use your own judgment as a parent.

Don’t make “homemade” fireworks. The last thing you want is for your house to explode. While you’re at it, don’t combine store-bought fireworks together, either.

Obey the laws in your area. Sure, rules are fun to break sometimes, but firework laws are not safe to break. They’re usually in place because areas are too crowded to have fireworks used. If this is the case, try another location—or attend a fair doing their own show.