Whether you are divorced, a single parent, or a blended family, celebrating holidays is a fun and exciting time with your children. However, during Fourth of July, it is important to remember that safety always must come first in order to protect those you love, especially the little ones. Here are a few tips for you and your family to consider in order to stay safe during this holiday celebration.
First off, fireworks, though a lot of fun, can be an extremely dangerous thing to be around. According to national statistics done by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, there are an estimated 9,600 firework injuries per year that are treated in emergency rooms. Out of those injuries nearly 36 percent of them were for people under the age of 20 years old. The biggest factor for safety on this holiday for your family is that children should never be allowed near fireworks. If you feel that it is necessary for your family to have your own fireworks, keep the children in a safe distance and be sure that only adults are handling the products. However, choosing to attend your community fireworks show is likely the safest option for your family as the fireworks will be done in a controlled environment by professionals and a good distance away from the audience.
In the event that you do decide to have your own little fireworks show, here are a few extra tips to consider. It is absolutely essential that you read all of the instructions on the manual before lighting up the fireworks. Next, be sure that you do not purchase packages that don't have an actual label or manufacturers name on it, these may be dangerous and illegal. Also, if you plan on drinking alcohol, be sure to say away from the fireworks, try to send someone who is completely coherent to do the lighting.
Next, when lighting fireworks, always make sure that you are in a safe environment. Make sure that the temperatures are cool, the ground is level and that you are not located near a building or trees, or even dry leaves or other flammable materials. In the event that you find one of your fireworks appears defective, do not proceed with lighting it. Also, if a firework fails to ignite after the first attempt, do not try a second attempt on the same firework as it may have dangerous consequences.
As stated, this holiday can be a wonderful time for family and friends to gather together so don't risk the safety of your children or your selves just so you can enjoy fireworks. Proceed with caution, and enjoy your holiday off!
