Fireworks Safety With Kids

Kids Health has put together a helpful article about keeping kids safe around fireworks this year.

It's not as much fun to read the safety information as it is to scour Pinterest for red, white, & blue crafts or make an American flag from Jell-o with your kids, but it's much more important.

Here's what the experts want you to know before you start lighting fireworks this year:

• Kids should never play with fireworks. Things like firecrackers, rockets, and sparklers are just too dangerous. If you give kids sparklers, make sure they keep them outside and away from the face, clothing, and hair. Sparklers can reach 1,800°F (982°C) — hot enough to melt gold.

• Buy only legal fireworks (legal fireworks have a label with the manufacturer's name and directions; illegal ones are unlabeled), and store them in a cool, dry place. Illegal fireworks usually go by the names M-80, M100, blockbuster, or quarterpounder. These explosives were banned in 1966, but still account for many fireworks injuries.

• Never try to make your own fireworks.

• Always use fireworks outside and have a bucket of water and a hose nearby in case of accidents.

• Steer clear of others — fireworks have been known to backfire or shoot off in the wrong direction. Never throw or point fireworks at someone, even in jest.

• Don't hold fireworks in your hand or have any part of your body over them while lighting. Wear some sort of eye protection, and avoid carrying fireworks in your pocket — the friction could set them off.

• Point fireworks away from homes, and keep away from brush and leaves and flammable substances. The National Fire Protection Association estimates that local fire departments respond to more 50,000 fires caused by fireworks each year.

• Light one firework at a time (not in glass or metal containers), and never relight a dud.

• Don't allow kids to pick up pieces of fireworks after an event. Some may still be ignited and can explode at any time.

• Soak all fireworks in a bucket of water before throwing them in the trash can.

I'll admit that while I'd never purchase fireworks that weren't legal or attempt to make my own, there are some of these tips that I hadn't thought about.  For instance, we don't soak our fireworks in a bucket of water before throwing them in the trashcan.  We do check to be sure they aren't hot, but with all the packaging some fireworks have, it would probably be a good idea to drop them in a bucket of water.

For more tips on fireworks safety be sure to check out the entire article at Kids Health. Have a safe and happy fourth of July!