For many people, Independence Day means freedom, family, friends – and fireworks. Many communities offer professional fireworks displays over the holiday weekend – and that’s one of the safest ways to enjoy this spectacular nighttime entertainment.

The National Safety Council advises people to leave fireworks to the professionals. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, 9,700 people in the United States were treated in emergency rooms for fireworks injuries in 2023. Eight people died.

Your best option for enjoying July Fourth festivities is to pack healthy snacks, bottled water, bug spray and a blanket and take the family to your local community celebration.

But if you do plan to set off fireworks yourself, here are safety guidelines to remember.

Check local regulations.

Make sure that the fireworks you plan to use are legal. The state of Ohio, for example, allows limited use of certain fireworks on specific days of the year, with restrictions. Check both state and local laws, since local laws often take precedence over state law.

Never set off fireworks when there is a local burning ban.

Stay sober.

Don’t bring out the fireworks when you or your guests are under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Because drugs and alcohol can impair your judgment, you might make dangerous decisions about how and where to set off these explosives.

Drugs and alcohol can also make you clumsy and uncoordinated, making it difficult to safely light fireworks.

Set up a safe environment.

Never use fireworks indoors. Choose an outdoor spot that’s flat and hard, away from buildings, vehicles and trees or shrubbery that could catch fire or otherwise be damaged by fireworks.

Be respectful to others – the noise can be disturbing for veterans, children and pets – so don’t set off fireworks in a neighborhood where other homes are nearby.

Designate a safe perimeter. For ground-based fireworks such as fountains, leave a perimeter of at least 50 feet. For fireworks that explode in the air, the safety perimeter should be at least 150 feet.

Be prepared for emergencies.

Have a bucket of water and a fire extinguisher nearby. Soak used fireworks before discarding them. Designate one person to be responsible for handling the fire extinguisher in case of an emergency.

Do not give fireworks to children, and make sure children are supervised.

Watch your aim.

The person setting off the fireworks should be far from any people, buildings or trees. They also should wear protective goggles or safety glasses.

Fireworks should never be aimed at people, animals or objects.

Remember that lit fireworks can explode at any time.

Light fireworks one at a time, then move away from them quickly. Never hold lit fireworks in your hands.

Fireworks that don’t work properly when you light them can still explode. Keep your distance and do not try to pick up or relight misfired fireworks. Let them sit for at least 10 minutes before soaking them in a bucket of water.

Keep in mind that sparklers are not safe, particularly for children. Sparklers burn at about 2,000 degrees, and they can quickly ignite clothing. In fact, about 25% of emergency room visits for fireworks annually are due to sparklers. Glow sticks, party poppers or color streamers are just as fun and are much safer.

Sources:
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Consumer Product Safety Commission
National Safety Council