People are crowding firework stands to celebrate America’s independence with a bang. Authorities want to remind them of some simple tips regarding fireworks safety.
Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says let the professionals do it.
“Let the guys who know what they’re doing do it in fantastic fashion,” Rodrigue said. “Long show, big fireworks: that’s just the best option for families in our opinion.”
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 10,000 fireworks-related injuries were treated by emergency rooms across the United States last year. Rodrigue says if you decide to pop fireworks yourself, make sure it’s legal to do so in your community and that there’s no burn ban in effect. She encourages the public to make sure they’re in a safe area.
“If you’re going to go ahead and do a fireworks show, make sure that the location that you choose is 200 feet at least away from any structures – that’s homes, that’s barns, that’s garages, vehicles, and brush,” Rodrigue said.
Rodrigue suggests having a water source nearby in case something goes wrong and you need to put out a fire. She also urges people not to pop fireworks while drunk or high because impairment slows down your reaction time. Lastly, Rodrigue urges people never to allow children to play with sparklers because they could lead to serious burns.
“And that is not the kind of injury you can put a Band Aid on for three days and it just goes away,” Rodrigue said. “These kinds of injuries can be lifelong, both visibly and what we can’t see.”
