Independence day is a celebration of when our country gained it’s freedom from that big island to the east (otherwise known as England). Since that great day in 1776, our forefathers and all the generations to follow have celebrated the 4th of July with a myriad of events. The day is widely popular for parades, family gatherings, and most importantly FIREWORKS!
However, you may not know this but there is another aspect of this holiday that goes unrecognized in most communities. It is called the Emergency Room Shuffle. Apparently, a good number of self proclaimed backyard “pyrotechnic engineers” gain access to fireworks (and in some cases alcohol - never a good mix) and end up burning off their eyebrows, catching their clothes on fire (resulting in 3rd degree burns) or worse.. they have been known to lose one or more fingers. The good news though is that hospitals across the nation have been dealing with these types of emergencies for years and our staffed and prepared for your holiday festivities to go awry.
In an effort to help our readers avoid the dreaded Emergency Room Shuffle, we have composed the following Firework Safety Tips to help get you through the holiday. Enjoy!
- Always read directions.
- Always have an adult present.
- Use fireworks outdoors only.(should go without saying!)
- Never use near dry grass or other flammable materials.
- Light one at a time.
- Keep a safe distance.
- Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
- Never shoot fireworks in metal or glass containers
- Never experiment or attempt to make your own fireworks.
- Have a bucket of water and a hose handy.
- Never attempt to re-light or “fix” fireworks.
- Do not wear loose fitting clothing.
- Never carry fireworks in your pockets.
- Fireworks are not toys - do not give them to small children.
- Only buy from reliable fireworks sellers.
If you are unsure of the laws in your area governing the use of fireworks, please visit this link for a state-by-state listing.
We hope this information helps our readers at SmartSecurityPeople.com to have a wonderful and safe 4th of July holiday. If you have any additional safety tips for our readers (or bad experiences we can all learn from) please share them below in the comments section.
