Fourth of July: 5 tips to enjoy fireworks safely
- It is typically safest to leave fireworks displays to the professionals
- Fire marshall: 'Every year we see injuries'
- Heat may also be a safety concern over the holiday weekend
Testing on staging11
(NewsNation) — With the Fourth of July celebrations around the corner, many Americans will celebrate with fireworks.
While leaving the large fireworks displays to the professionals is the safest way to enjoy, here are five tips to enjoy the holiday safely if you plan on lighting your own.
- Always follow the instructions on the packaging
- Never hold lit fireworks in your hands
- Don’t point or throw fireworks at another person or object
- Keep a supply of water close by — you never know when you may need it
- Only light one firework at a time and never try to relight “a dud”
“It’s very unfortunate every year that we see injuries from the residents that are experimenting with these illegal fireworks and it’s really unnecessary for them to have to deal with a lifelong injury because of attempted five minutes of fun by lighting these illegal fireworks off,” Fire Marshall Chris Bachman of Contra Costa County in San Francisco said.
Besides fireworks, heat may also be a safety consideration, depending on where you live.
The Weather Channel reports parts of the U.S. could see record-breaking heat this summer with the climate crisis causing heat waves to happen 67% more often than in 1979.
If your state is forecasted to have high temperatures over the holiday weekend, stay safe by staying hydrated, spending time indoors and taking frequent breaks if you are outdoors during the hottest parts of the day.