Firework Safety

Author: Shannon Miller

We are all concerned about keeping our children safe during the holiday weekend.  Here are some good safety tips for preventing sparkler injuries to young children, from the National Council on

Firework Safety

The National Council on Fireworks Safety offers these safety steps for sparklers, in the hopes that sparkler injuries to young children can be greatly reduced.

Quick Tips

  • Children under the age of 12 shouldn’t use sparklers without VERY CLOSE adult supervision
  • Always remain standing while using sparklers
  • Never hold a child in your arms while using a sparkler
  • Never hold, or light more than one sparkler at a time
  • Sparklers and bare feet = painful combination, so wear closed toe shoes
  • Sparkler wire and stick remain hot long after the flame has gone out. Be sure to drop the sparkler directly into a bucket of water
  • Never hand a lit sparkler to someone – give them the unlit sparkler and then light it
  • Always stand at least 6 feet from another person while using sparklers
  • Never throw sparklers
  • Show children how to hold sparklers away from their body and at arms length
  • Teach children not to wave sparklers, especially wooden stick sparklers, or run while holding sparklers

Rules for Fireworks in Florida

  • A simple rule is if they bang, explode, or are projected into the air, they are ILLEGAL.
  • Basically, if it explodes either on the ground or in the air, it’s illegal.
  • Rules cover both the sale and use of fireworks so crossing the state line into Georgia to buy your stash then setting them off back home won’t cut it with police.
  • Specifically Permitted in Florida
    • Novelties & trick noisemakers are approved for use and include smoke devices, party poppers, snappers and snakes.
    • Specifically Prohibited
      • Firecrackers, common bottle rockets, M80’s with mortar, torpedoes, skyrockets, roman candles, daygo bombs, and any fireworks containing explosive or flammable compounds.
      • Penalties – Anyone caught violating fireworks laws can be charged with a misdemeanor and can be fined a maximum penalty of up to a year in jail or a $1,000 fine.

      Keeping Your Pets Safe Around Fireworks

      • According to the Humane Society, July 5th is the busiest day of the year at animal shelters, as companion animals that fled in fright the night before are found miles from their homes, disoriented and exhausted.
        • Let your outside pets enjoy the indoors for the evening, if only in the garage.
        • It’s best to stay with them. But if you’re partying elsewhere, leave your pets a few creature comforts to help soothe their stress.
        • For example a blanket or an unwashed shirt from your laundry hamper, a stuffed animal or a Kong pet toy filled with peanut butter will keep them occupied.

      Do you have any firework safety tips to share? Please add your tip or comment.

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