“If you’re entertaining with fireworks this summer, it’s critical to take all safety precautions,” says Mariana Shaut, Administrative Director of Emergency Services at HealthAlliance Hospital: Broadway Campus, a member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth).
In the month around Independence Day, Shaut says, an average of 230 people nationwide visit the emergency room daily with fireworks-related injuries.
According to Shaut, it’s safest to leave fireworks to the professionals, but if you decide to employ them yourself, here are tips to follow:
- Read and follow all warnings and instructions.
- Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks.
- Keep a bucket of water or a hose nearby in case of a fire or other mishap.
- Light fireworks one at a time, on a flat, smooth surface, away from buildings and flammable materials.
- Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully.
Make sure you, children and others watch fireworks displays from a safe distance.