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Fireworks Safety Reminders

Preferred Care is committed to helping you and your family lead safe, healthy lives. While New York State law does not allow the use of fireworks, many of us travel during the summer holidays to places where fireworks are allowed.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) states that emergency rooms treat thousands of people each year for fireworks-related injuries across the U.S. The most common come from firecrackers, rockets, and sparklers. Almost half of the injuries are to children ages 14 years and younger  Males suffer over 70% of all injuries Hands and fingers (26%), eyes (21%), and the head and face (18%) are injured more often More than half of the injuries involve burns

• Leave the fireworks to trained professionals.
• Do not allow young children to play with fireworks. Sparklers (thought to be "safe" for kids) can easily ignite clothing.
• Older children should only use fireworks under close adult supervision. Do not allow any running or horseplay.
• Light fireworks outdoors in a clear area. Keep away from houses, dry leaves or grass and flammable materials.
• Keep a bucket of water nearby for emergencies or pouring on fireworks
  that don't go off.
• Do not try to relight or handle fireworks that don’t go off. Douse them with water
  and throw them away.
• Be sure other people are out of range before lighting fireworks.
• Never set off fireworks in a container, especially if it is glass or metal.
• Keep unused fireworks away from main firing areas.
• Store them in a dry, cool place. Check for storage directions.
• Observe local laws.
• Don’t use homemade fireworks.
• Never have any part of your body over a firework when lighting.

• Do not rub the eye. This can increase bleeding or worsen the injury.
• Do not rinse out the eye.
• Do not apply pressure to the eye directly. Protect it from contact, including from the hand.
• Get fast medical attention from a trained professional.

• For Kids: Visit Finding Out About Fireworks Safety in the KidsHealth® section of the Preferred Care Web site.
• View the Consumer Products Safety Comission's Fireworks Regulations & Safety Awareness brochure online.
• For first aid information, see the Burns and Burn Emergencies sections of Preferred Care's online Health Encyclopedia.