Fourth of July Weekend Safety Tips and Facts
In anticipation of Independence Day celebrations all weekend, all of us at Strellis and Field wanted to share some safety tips and facts to keep your 2021 celebrations fun and safe! Due to COVID-19 restrictions just recently being lifted in the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago, many firework shows may be canceled. Thus, many people may feel inclined to set off their own fireworks. The National Safety Council (NSC) has issued a warning about the dangers of combining hand sanitizer and fireworks. Using hand sanitizer has become an integral aspect of most people’s daily routine, but it contains alcohol, which is extremely flammable. Therefore, it is best to wash your hands with soap and water instead. Wherever you are, make sure to check the legality of fireworks at the state and local level before engaging in any activity with fireworks.
The Pyrotechnic Use Act in Illinois bans the sale, use, and possession of all “consumer fireworks.” The only “fireworks” that are not regulated by the state of Illinois are novelty fireworks, such as sparklers, party-poppers, and snakes. Despite being legal, sparklers are extremely dangerous. According to the National Fire Protection Association, more than 25% of all firework-related emergency room visits are to treat injuries caused by sparklers, and it is an even higher rate for children under 5, at nearly 50%. of According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (USCPS), sparklers can burn at temperatures at about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, and remain exceedingly hot after the sparks have gone out. This is hot enough to melt glass and aluminum! Therefore, if you decide to use sparklers, closely supervise your children and follow these safety tips:
- Only light one sparkler at a time
- Skip the hand sanitizer and use soap and water or wear gloves
- Do not hand-lit sparklers over to others. Rather, hand over an unlit sparkler and light it separately
- Keep at least six feet away from others while using sparklers (and for social distancing)
- Do not run while holding lit sparklers, remain standing in one place
- Hold lit sparklers an arm’s length away from your body at all times
- Wear closed-toed shoes and glasses to prevent burns
- Never hold children while using lit sparklers
- After the light has gone out, put the used sparklers in water so they can cool down
According to the USCPS, in 2019, over 7,000 people reported firework-related injuries around the Fourth of July, and 57% of firework-related injuries are burns. Furthermore, fireworks start approximately 18,500 fires annually. If you are in an area where fireworks are legal and you choose to use them, follow these safety tips provided by the NSC:
- Young children should never handle fireworks
- Adults should closely supervise older children using fireworks
- Never use fireworks while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Wear protective eyewear if using or standing by fireworks
- Never hold lit fireworks or light them indoors
- Stay far away from people, houses and flammable material when lighting fireworks
- Never point or throw fireworks at others
- Only light one firework at a time and retreat to maintain a safe distance after lighting
- Never ignite fireworks inside a container
- Do not attempt to re-light or handle malfunctioning (“dud”) fireworks
- Soak both used and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before disposing of them
- Keep water nearby in case of fire and to fully extinguish fireworks that don’t go off
- Never use illegal fireworks
- Store fireworks in a cool, dry place away from children and pets
All of us at Strellis and Field hope that you and your loved ones have a healthy and enjoyable Fourth of July! We hope these tips can help prevent firework and sparkler injuries, but if you or a loved one has been injured due to the fault of others, contact us today for a free initial consultation and complete analysis of the circumstances.
