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It’s just about time to break out the barbeque pit and load up on all the grilled deliciousness you can handle. I know I will be. I guess I treat the 4th a lot like one my favorite comedians Jim Gaffigan does, “I normally don’t have a burger, a brat, and a steak, but it is the 4th of July.” And what Independence Day celebration is complete without fireworks.

With the 4th creeping up on us again I thought it would be a great time to do my part to help spread the word about fireworks safety.

Last year alone there were two deaths and over 9,000 emergency room visits for injuries related to fireworks and this year will probably not be much different. The CPSC has outlined some general safety guidelines that will help to ensure you and your family don’t make next year’s statistics.

  • Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
  • Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.
  • Avoid buying fireworks that come in brown paper packaging, as this can often be a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and could pose a danger to consumers.
  • Adults should always supervise fireworks activities. Parents often don’t realize that there are many injuries from sparklers to children under five. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees – hot enough to melt some metals.
  • Never have any portion of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Move back to a safe distance immediately after lighting.
  • Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not fully functioned.
  • Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
  • Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.
  • Light one item at a time then move back quickly.
  • Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.
  • After fireworks fully complete their functioning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding to prevent a trash fire.

Another great way to enjoy fireworks and stay safe is to watch fireworks show. This way everyone can just sit back and enjoy the beauty from a safe distance and leave all of the dangerous work to the professionals.

The Freedom Over Texas fireworks show in downtown Houston show is pretty good, here is a video of last year’s show.

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