This weekend, the United States of America celebrates its 246th birthday, and she doesn’t look a day over 229. Since the 4th falls on a Monday this year, many of our fellow Americans will get a three-day weekend, which usually sounds like good news to just about everybody. That means we can expect lots of outdoor fun like grilling, horseshoes, swimming, camping … and fireworks.
Let’s be honest … Fireworks are fun. But they’re also controlled explosions. Literally. That makes them dangerous, especially for children.
So, since we all want to keep children safe – and avoid a trip to the emergency room this year – here are three simple fireworks safety suggestions, courtesy Safe Kids Worldwide:
- If possible, attend public firework displays. Leave lighting fireworks to the professionals.
- Give children glowsticks instead of sparklers. Sparklers can heat up to more than 1,200 degrees and are dangerous for young children.
- Keep fireworks away from children. Make sure children stay are a safe distance away from a lit firework.
Some other tips …
- Keep bystanders at a safe distance from exploding fireworks
- Read all instructions carefully.
- Keep a bucket of water nearby for emergencies.
- If a firework fails to ignite, do not attempt to re-light it. Drop it in water, then throw it away.
Bottom line – fireworks can burn and seriously injure little fingers, eyes, and ears. That’s why responsible adults should carefully supervise any home fireworks display. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, children 10 to 14 years have the highest estimated rate of emergency department-treated, fireworks-related injuries, and about 3,000 kids end up in the emergency room each year.
No doubt we all could use a celebratory family-friendly weekend about now, so let’s keep it fun by keeping it safe – for all of us.
