Make sure fireworks go off in the air, not in your face

According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, nearly 100 people across the state, visited an emergency room with a fireworks-related injury in 2019; 25 percent of those injuries involved children.

Additionally, the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission finds a 50 percent increase in injuries and deaths from fireworks-related incidents in 2020, compared to 2019.

“The majority of injuries from fireworks are burns that occur to the hands or fingers, legs, face and eyes,” said local hospital director of emergency services Robin Schultz. “We recommend fireworks be left to experts specially trained and certified, so you can have a safe and enjoyable holiday.”

When deciding to use fireworks, it’s strongly recommended these safety tips from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) be followed at all times:

• Make sure fireworks are legal in the area, before buying or using them.

• Never allow children to play with, or ignite, fireworks. Young children can suffer injuries from sparklers, which burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees, which is 20 times the boiling point of water. As a safe alternative to sparklers, use glow sticks.

• Always read and follow label instructions.

• Only light fireworks on a smooth, flat surface away from houses, dry leaves and flammable materials.

• Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy, in case of fire or other mishap.

• Never place any part of the body directly over a firework when lighting the fuse. Back up to a safe distance immediately after lighting a firework (only light one at a time) and wear eye protection.

• Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully.

• Never carry fireworks in a pocket, or shoot them from metal or glass containers.

• Soak all spent fireworks in a bucket of water before throwing them in the trash can. Never discard fireworks, including used ones, in a fire pit.

• Avoid buying fireworks packaged in brown paper. This is often a sign they were made for professional use only.

More fireworks safety tips are available on the CPSC website, at cpsc.gov.