4 Minute Read
Reviewed By: Dr. Craig Harrison
Fireworks can make gatherings more fun for people of all ages, but they can pose health and safety risks. In fact, nearly 10,000 people visited emergency rooms for fireworks-related injuries in 2023 alone, and each year, fireworks start around 19,000 fires on average. Fortunately, you can reduce the risks to you and your loved ones by following these firework safety tips.
Keep Kids and Pets at a Safe Distance
Young children and pets may be curious about fireworks, but keep them safely away from them at all times. Never allow little ones to help you light fireworks, and closely supervise older children and adolescents.
If possible, keep pets inside during the fun. You may want to turn on the television or play soft music if your pet gets anxious during fireworks displays.
Set Up a Firework Safety Zone
Staying safely away from fireworks is important for adults, too. To help ensure that everyone maintains a safe distance, set up a safety zone with stakes and garden twine or party decorations. For ground fireworks, keep guests at least 35 feet away, and for aerial displays, keep them 150 feet away.
Don’t Underestimate Sparklers
Sparklers ay seem safer than ground and aerial fireworks because they don’t pop and explode — but they can reach temperatures of 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit and cause serious burns. Each year, sparklers account for around 25% of all emergency room visits — and around half of all fireworks injuries in children are due to sparklers.
For safety, don’t let children under the age of five use sparklers. You can offer glow sticks to little ones as an alternative. Teach bigger kids how to hold sparklers safely, and supervise them closely during the fun.
Don’t Mix Alcohol and Fireworks
The risk for injuries increases when those using fireworks are under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. For everyone’s safety, have a designated fireworks operator who remains sober during the party.
Wear Protective Gear
If you’re the one lighting fireworks, take precautions to protect yourself from injury with protective gear, including:
- Sturdy heat-resistant and flame-resistant gloves
- Long sleeves and full-length pants made of fire-resistant materials
- Safety goggles or glasses
- Earplugs or over-the-ear ear protection
- Closed-toe shoes
It’s a good idea to supply hearing protection for everyone watching the display as well. Because they’re so loud, fireworks can cause ringing and buzzing in the ears, sensitivity to sound and even hearing loss.
Use Fireworks Properly
How you use the products that you buy has a major impact on firework safety. These tips can help you stay safe:
- Read packaging instructions carefully prior to use, and follow them closely
- Light one firework at a time
- After lighting, quickly move as far back from the firework as possible
- Never light fireworks inside of containers
- Don’t attempt to light malfunctioning fireworks a second time
- Keep unused fireworks outside of your fire safety perimeter until you’re ready to light them
- Avoid pointing fireworks at anyone when lighting them
Watch the Weather
Keep an eye on weather conditions during the days leading up to your celebration. If your area is under a fire weather watch due to drought, reconsider using fireworks entirely. Fire warnings, also called Red Flag Warnings, indicate that high temperatures, low humidity levels and high winds make wildfires more likely to occur.
Be Prepared to Extinguish Fires
Before you begin your firework display, ensure that you’re ready to respond to unexpected fires. Have buckets of water or a connected garden hose close at hand. It’s also a good idea to keep a fire extinguisher within quick reach — check its expiration date prior to your celebration, and familiarize yourself with the instructions printed on its label ahead of time.
Stick to Legal Products
State and local laws regulating fireworks vary from location to location. Familiarize yourself with the rules for your area and follow them closely to ensure safety and avoid costly fines.
Properly Dispose of Unused Fireworks
Firework safety doesn’t stop once your display is over. Before your celebration ends, soak unused and defective fireworks in a bucket of water for a few hours to ensure that they don’t reignite after disposal. Then, place them in your regular trash, rather than your recycling bins.
Seek Care for Burns
You can treat minor burns at home using a cold compress or running the burn under cool water for around 10 minutes. Apply petroleum jelly to the burn two or three times every day, and keep it covered with a bandage while it heals.
Seek emergency care if:
- The burn is larger than three inches
- Blisters form within a few hours
- The burn is on your face, joints or hands
- You see pus or fluid leakage
- Pain gets worse instead of improving