BEFORE LIGHTING ANY bottle rockets or sparklers at home this
summer, brush up on safety tips.
> Keep it outdoors. Only light fireworks outside and away from
your home, garden shed, barn or other structures.
> Have water on hand. Place a large bucket of water and a water
hose near the fireworks lighting site in case stray sparks get out
of hand or a firework shoots in an unintended direction.
> Don't re-light duds. Sometimes, fireworks don't work properly
after the fuse is lit. If this happens, don't try to re-light the firework.
Instead, soak stalled fireworks in water and dispose of them.
> Never let young children handle fireworks. Young children
should never touch or light fireworks, and older children should
be very closely supervised. Stress to your children that safety
rules must be followed, and rule #1
is to never light fireworks
without adult supervison.
Many fireworks get hot enough to melt glass, so having one burn your
skin is no small matter. If a fireworks injury occurs, see your primary
care doctor or go to your local urgent care or emergency room as
quickly as possible. If the injury is a burn, run cool water over it. If it
is an eye injury, don't touch it or flush it with water—seek immediate
medical attention.
FEW THINGS LIGHT UP
A SUMMER NIGHT'S
SKY LIKE FESTIVE
FIREWORKS.
SAFETY SAVVY
Fireworks Alternatives
To avoid the risk that comes with lighting
fireworks without missing out on the fun,
consider these alternatives.
• Attend a professional fireworks show.
Watch your local news outlets for
announcements of fireworks events in
your area.
• Opt for glow sticks. Just as bright and
festive as sparklers, glow sticks are widely
available and often inexpensive. They also
don't require the fire necessary to make
sparklers shine.
• Go for glow-in-the-dark paint. Whether
you buy nontoxic body paint from a store
or use one of many do-it-yourself recipes
found online, these paints can let your
children be their own sparklers.
• Play with flashlights. Flashlights can
illuminate the night with an after-dark
light show or energetic game of flashlight
beam tag.
Fireworks
