Safety first for Fourth of July festivities
Fourth of July is just around the corner, and while there are plenty of activities Americans take part in to celebrate, none are more popular than lighting fireworks.
Of course, it’s not all fun and games when lighting fireworks. Though they are beautiful, fireworks can be dangerous if handled improperly.
Talking with Becky Presley, manager of Central City Fireworks, there are several things everyone can do to make sure you have a very safe and fun celebration for the Fourth of July.
Plenty of people buy their fireworks well in advance of the fourth of July, some even purchase them July 5th the year before and store them until the following Fourth of July. When it comes to properly storing fireworks, there are a couple of tips to keep in mind.
“Fireworks just have to be stored in a dry place, away from any kind of flames,” Presley said. “As long as you keep them away from moisture, they’ll store for years. And, they may get better with age the more they dry out.”
Another element customers may not think about beforehand is what to do with pets who might get excited or scared during a fireworks show. There are options, like contacting a veterinarian for relaxation medication, or just trying to find a comfortable place in your house to make them feel safe and less anxious.
“Any pets that are susceptible to loud noises or scared of thunderstorms, we recommend keeping them indoors and finding them a safe place like a bedroom to keep them comfortable. We also sell K9 relaxation squares here that are made of all natural ingredients … and it does seem to help a lot.”
It is also important to teach young children proper safety as they observe. Make sure they know where to hold sparklers, or to not grab fireworks which may still be hot shortly after firing off. Show them every step of proper handling in order to keep them safe while having fun.
“We have to teach them that they are fun, but they can also be a hazard,” Presley said. “They just have to learn to handle them properly.”
Before lighting off any fireworks, you want to have the proper materials and space handy for just-in-case scenarios. Customers should always have a clear opening to light off fireworks.
“The main thing you want to do is know the approximate height of your fireworks,” Presley said. “If you’re getting the 200 or 500 gram cakes, make sure you’re not lighting them under power lines, tree branches or too close to the house. Get a wide-open space and make sure you have a safe distance between you and the audience.”
Having a safe base to launch your fireworks from is crucial, making sure the fireworks are level when lighting off and not at an angle to avoid any problematic scenarios.
And while keeping a fire extinguisher on site is probably the best preparation, it is not practical for everyone. Regardless, you should have at minimum a bucket of water, or multiple, on site just in case you need to douse out a fire. A water hose is also an ideal option.
You want to make sure the weather conditions are right before lighting any fireworks. With the summer weather bringing in dry, windy weather around the Fourth of July, it is important to check for any fire safety or wind warnings before celebrating with fireworks.
When lighting fireworks, the goal should be to avoid any kind of emergency situation. Preventing firework injuries is crucial to a safe holiday.
“What we want to focus on is preventing injuries,” Presley said. “Wearing safety glasses is important. Don’t hold the fireworks in your hand when you light them. We recommend to our customers that they brace all of their fireworks, which means using a concrete block or brick around the cakes to stabilize them and make sure they don’t kick over. … Another way to brace fireworks is to stake them down with rebar and drive it in the ground and duct tape the firework to the rebar.”
Presley went further in detail, expressing the importance of having a barrier between whoever is lighting the fireworks and whoever is enjoying the show on top of keeping a safe distance.
“We turned a folding table on its side,” Presley said. “We’ve put 4×8 sheets of plywood around our fireworks for demo night or the finale. Just in case something tips over or shoots out the side, it hits that barrier.”
Presley also noted that you should never lean over any firework to light it. Whether it is a bottle rocket or a 500 gram cake, always lean your head to the side when lighting the wick.
“If something is lit and it doesn’t go off, don’t try to relight it,” she said. “You don’t want to get close to it in case it ignites.”
Disposing of used fireworks properly is of extreme importance as well.
“Leave them away from anything that can catch on fire for a long period of time,” Presley said. “I remember a few years back there was a house that burnt down because they put them in a trashcan and rolled it right up next to the house. Do not do that. Let them sit there for a few hours and put out any fires that may happen, but don’t immediately pick them up and throw them into a dumpster or trash can because they can still be smoldering and there is a good chance they catch on fire.”
If they are still smoldering after several hours, dousing them with water is an option, or you can leave them out overnight and pick them up in the morning.
Celebrating our freedom as a nation is what Fourth of July is all about. Making sure to celebrate safely is the best way to make sure everyone has a happy Independence Day.