Well, another school year has come to a close and summer is upon us – swimming, vacations, cookouts and yes, fireworks. The month of June and the first week of July leading up to Independence Day festivities is the time of year people flock to the roadside stands and fireworks stores to stock up.
Anyone with much experience with fireworks can tell you they can injure you. One wrong move could mean at minimum, a painful burn on your hand. If you get into more explosive fireworks like M-80s or cherry bombs (…which are illegal in some states), you could be talking about some really serious injuries, maybe even death.
In fact, eye injuries are the most common with fireworks according to Prevent Blindness America. Burns are not far behind along with other injuries. Children are the most vulnerable to injury from fireworks. While they are very alluring, kids generally do not have a full understanding to the dangers of fireworks.
To generate awareness about these dangers at the peak time of year, the National Fireworks Safety Month was established for the month of June.
Here are a few safety tips you can consider to ensure a safe, fun time with fireworks this summer.
- Do NOT let children play with fireworks, even sparklers, which can reach temperatures of over a thousand degrees Fahrenheit.
- Only have one adult lighting the fireworks and be sure they’re being used in a fire safe area. Make sure everyone stands several yards from the area you’re lighting fireworks.
- Keep a water hose and/or fire extinguisher handy while shooting fireworks. Authorities may in fact restrict firework use if it’s too dry in your area.
- Confirm laws and ordinances regarding fireworks in your area. Some states and local governments may ban certain types of fireworks.
- Carefully read and follow all instructions on any packaging.
- Refrain from alcohol and drug use while shooting fireworks. Impairment can slow your reaction time or lead to things you wouldn’t ordinarily do.
Of course, there are always instances of defective fireworks causing injury. If this occurs and you follow all precautions, you may have grounds for a lawsuit.
Following the precautions above can help ensure you have a safe, fun time shooting fireworks during the upcoming Fourth of July holiday or anytime. Another option to consider is to skip home fireworks altogether and attend a professional fireworks show in your area.
While injury can still occur, it’s much less likely to occur at a show.
But if you find that you or a loved one has been injured by a firework that was faulty, contact defective product attorneys in Knoxville at the Gilreath Law firm today for a free case evaluation.
