Some tips for safely handling and utilizing dangerous fireworks on 4th of July
The annual July 4 holiday is all about celebration — celebrating our nation's independence, celebrating with friends and family, celebrating with hot dogs and hamburgers right off the grill and, around here, celebrating on the river.
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On such a joyous day, the last thing anyone wants to see is a serious injury, but fireworks, long a staple of the Fourth of July, are very dangerous if not utilized carefully and correctly.
Here is a list of some firework safety tips to make sure your holiday remains a happy and healthy one. Most of these are common sense, but they still must be stressed considering how important they are and how often fireworks accidents happen.
Plenty of space
Fireworks are very volatile and often do things you can't predict.
When that happens, the best thing you could have going for you is to have plenty of space to move.
Shooting fireworks in a big, open area means people should have more than enough room to run and escape in the event a stray firework decides it doesn't want to go in the intended direction or go off when expected.
Buying from reputable dealers also helps ensure your fireworks aren't unstable.
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Follow the law
Whatever the local laws are for fireworks, follow them.
It may seem like common sense, but when holidays, partying, and alcohol become involved, judgment often takes a backseat. But that's when accidents happen, so make sure you know your local laws on fireworks storage and usage and which fireworks are legal to use.
Also make sure to give a good read to the directions and labels on fireworks — they're there for a reason. Some safety glasses are a good idea, too, because as previously mentioned, fireworks often are erratic at best.
Right kind of liquid courage
Fireworks are explosive materials, no matter how much fun they can be. Remember that, and you're off to a good start. If you're handling fireworks, the only kind of liquid courage you should have isn't of the alcohol variety.
Should a firework hit something it shouldn't, there's always the possibility that it will set it on fire. That's why it is paramount that you have a large source of water handy.
Be it a bucket of water or a hose pipe, or even a fire extinguisher, having something nearby that quickly can put out any potential fires works much better than drinking and hoping nothing goes wrong.
Adults only
Under no circumstances should children handle fireworks.
It's dangerous enough for mature, responsible adults to be handling dangerous explosives — children are much more vulnerable physically and often are drawn to the spectacle of fireworks, so be extra vigilant that they do no more than watch the show.
The handling and usage of fireworks only should be done by an adult who is not inebriated in any way and understands the dangers associated and how to keep everyone present as safe as possible.
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Mindful of our furry friends
During all the fun of the holiday, sometimes it can be forgotten that fireworks often terrify our cats and dogs.
When celebrating the Fourth, remember to be mindful of the fact that there are animals that will hear the fireworks and be scared by them. Be sure to move any pets indoors or, if you can't do that, at least as far away as possible during fireworks use.
Whenever possible, distract the animals; if they're indoors, turn your TV up very loud, and if your pets have to stay outdoors, at least provide them with some music to help deflect their attention and keep them calm.
J.J. Hicks is a news reporter at The Gadsden Times. He can be reached at jhicks1@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Fireworks are fun, but safety is important on the 4th of July holiday
