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Tips for Fourth of July Fireworks Accidents Safety

Fourth of July is supposed to be a time of celebrating our country’s independence, however it is also a time when we are at a higher risk of burn injuries. Every year, Fourth of July has the highest number of burn injuries of any day. These injuries may be caused by fireworks accidents and grill fires.

Year after year, on Fourth of July, thousands of people are rushed to hospital emergency rooms with burn-related injuries. A majority of these injuries are minor in nature, but many of these are serious enough to require hospitalization and skin grafts. In the year 2008, there were seven deaths from fireworks  accidents reported from across the country.

The good news is that all fireworks  accidents and injuries are entirely preventable. The Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Council on Fireworks Safety recommends the following safety tips for the Fourth of July.

Many burn injuries during the Fourth of July holiday involve children. Children must never be allowed to touch fireworks. Also keep children away from fireworks debris. These can explode unexpectedly, causing serious burn, facial and eye injuries.

Older children and teenagers can be allowed to use fireworks, but only under adult supervision. The bottom line is that your children should never be allowed alone with fireworks at any point of time.

The following steps will keep you safe this fourth of July:

1. Avoid mixing fireworks with alcohol or drugs. It’s a celebratory occasion, and its easy to forget that mixing alcohol and fireworks is never a good idea.
2. Make sure that all fireworks are burst only outdoors. Fireworks must never be lit indoors.
3. While lighting fireworks, make sure that you have a steady supply of water close by, including a water hose to put out any sudden fires.
4. Never light fireworks around flammable materials.
5. Avoid lighting fires in enclosed storage areas, like your garage.
6. Never light fireworks on dry grass.
7. Make sure you’re in compliance with all local safety laws before you begin your Fourth of July fireworks.
8. Buy your fireworks only from reputed manufacturers and sellers. Detective fireworks can explode, and cause serious injuries.
9. All fireworks must be stored in a cool dry place.
10. While using fireworks, make sure that you read all usage instructions on the label, and follow these carefully.
11. Don’t light a number of different fireworks at the same time. Lighting just one firework at a time helps you keep an eye on safety.
12. Don’t stand, stoop or crouch directly over the firework while lighting it.
13. Make sure the people standing around the fireworks are standing far enough away to avoid injuries.
14. Don’t use fireworks like toys. These are not meant to be used as playthings, and it’s a terrible idea to throw fireworks at others, or throw them in the air.
15. Never light fireworks inside an enclosed container, like a metal or glass container.
16. Don’t experiment with dud fireworks. Soak these in water, and then discard them.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of  firework accidents. Please visit our website at http://www.robertreeveslaw.com/. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us at contact@robertreeveslaw.com.

The Reeves Law Group is not representing any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

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