Safety with Fireworks

HICKORY, NC (June 26, 2017)…Summer is here and it is time for the Fourth of July holiday. For many people, this holiday means food, fun, and fireworks. Yes, fireworks can be fun; but they also can be very dangerous and some are illegal. To keep this holiday from turning into a tragedy, the Hickory Fire Department offers these safety precautions.

 *Always read and follow label directions.
 *A responsible adult should be the person using fire works and children should only be observers.
 *Purchase fireworks from a reliable dealer.
 *Ignite outdoors only.
 *Have water handy to extinguish fires or soothe burns.
 *Never experiment or attempt to make your own fireworks.
 *Light only one firework at a time.
 *Never re-ignite malfunctioning fireworks and be extremely cautious of one that don’t work the first time.
 *Do not permit children to handle fire works.
 *Store fireworks in a cool, dry place and dispose of properly.
 *Never throw fireworks at another person.
 *Never carry fireworks in your pocket or shoot them in metal or glass containers.

According to a report released by the National Fire Protection Association, fireworks caused over 11,000 reported injuries in the United States last year and the majority of those injuries involved fireworks that are legal under the current federal law. For an example, sparklers, which are often considered safe, can reach temperatures higher than 1200 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Hickory Fire Department recommends leaving the fireworks to the professionals and never allowing children to ignite fireworks. For more information on summer safety, contact the Hickory Fire Department at 323-7420 or www.hickorync.gov.