ORLANDO, Fla. — With the 4th of July around the corner, it’s time to brush up on your fireworks safety.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is offering tips for people to keep themselves safe if they chose to light off their own fireworks instead of leaving it to the professionals.
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See 9 tips for fireworks safety from the department below:
1. Always use fireworks outside and have a bucket of water or hose nearby in case of accidents.
2. Designate a safety perimeter. If you have ground-based fireworks like a fountain, watching from at least 35 feet away is best. For aerial fireworks, you’ll want everyone to move back to a distance of around 150 feet.
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3. Ditch faulty fireworks. Sometimes fireworks don’t go off, but duds always pose a risk. Officials say its important to never try to relight or approach a failed firework. Let duds sit for 5 -10 minutes before you put them in a bucket of water. This can prevent injury from a delayed explosion and disarm the firework permanently so you can safely dispose of it.
4. Supervise children when they are handling sparklers. Sparklers burn at about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which officials said is hot enough to melt some metals. Sparklers can quickly ignite clothing, and children have received severe burns from dropping sparklers on their feet or touching body parts.
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5. Don’t forget about your pets. Keep your pets indoors. Close the curtains or blinds and turn on the TV or radio to provide some distraction. Treat toys filled with their favorite food (frozen pumpkin puree, peanut butter, and apple sauce are good options) may also help keep their minds busy and distract them from the fireworks.
6. Soak both spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding.
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7. Never place a part of your body directly over a firework or hold a firework in your hand when lighting. To safely light fireworks, make sure they are secured on the ground away from people and animals and use a stem lighter such as a grill lighter.
8. Only light one firework at a time. Officials said lighting multiple fireworks at the same time can increase the risk of accidents occurring from the fuse burning faster than designed.
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9. Avoid alcohol consumption when handling or using fireworks.
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