Every July many Kentuckians love to set off fireworks when the sky falls dark as a way to end their 4th of July celebration. Although fireworks are fun to watch, they can be dangerous if they fall into the wrong hands.
Keep Yourself and Your Guests Safe
The Kentuckiana personal injury attorneys at Kaiman and Crahan have put together a list of six ways to stay safe during 4th of July celebrations.
- Designate a firework lighting area, away from your party guests. Accidents can happen and you want to make sure that your guests aren’t in reach of a firework if it goes rogue. At least a 15-foot distance is recommended.
- Make sure you have a way to put out a fire in case of an emergency. This can include having a hose handy, a bucket, and/or fire extinguisher readily available.
- Check burn risks in your area before you decide to let off fireworks. You should consider canceling if the weather has been very dry, or there is a high fire risk for your area.
- Do not allow children to light fireworks. Even fireworks that may seem harmless, such as sparklers are a potential safety hazard to children. According to the National Fire Protection Association, sparklers account for more than 25% of emergency room visits for fireworks injuries. For children under 5 years of age, sparklers accounted for nearly half of the total injuries. Sparklers can reach up to 2000 degrees Fahrenheit and even can cause eye injuries or burns. Burn can even happen after they have gone out if handled incorrectly. We recommend safe alternatives such as glow sticks or confetti poppers to help celebrate the day instead.
- Buy fireworks that are legal in your area. Different states have different laws regarding firework purchases, so make sure you do your research before lighting them off.
- Be sober while lighting fireworks. Designate a sober person at your party to be the official firework lighter. Being under the influence can lead to slower reaction times and put all parties at risk.
Contact Us
The range of potential injuries from fireworks extends from minor burns to loss of fingers, damaged eyes and ears, and in rare cases, death. If you find yourself injured at a 4th of July party due to the negligence of another party, contact the personal injury attorneys at Kaiman and Crahan to schedule your free consultation. Stay safe and enjoy your 4th of July weekend!