Staying safe when shooting fireworks - Safety tips for kids (read it yourself and make sure you remember and apply it)
A lot of people love fireworks and some cultures will shoot it at certain times of the year and with festivities. Shooting fireworks can be entertaining and beautiful, but it can also be very dangerous, so it is important that you take note of a few things.
The most important rule before you start shooting fireworks is that you do not aim it at other people or animals and you must also let you neighbors know if you are going to shoot fireworks that they can keep their animals safe. Animals are very sensitive to the loud noise and it scares them a lot.
In a lot of places shooting fireworks in residential areas are prohibited (not allowed), so make sure you shoot it somewhere away from the houses.
It is easy to get hold of fireworks, but it is very important that you know that the fireworks you buy comes from a reputable dealer and are safe and not the 'back yard job'. If you buy unsafe fireworks, they can hurt you.
A lot of people get hurt yearly by fireworks which are not save and exploded in somebody's hands or face. You do not want a fun event to turn into a tragedy.
The best option is to go to an organised firework display. Not only do they have experts handling the fireworks, but it will also be bigger and brighter than the few you will fire off by yourself.
If you want to shoot a few of your own fireworks then make sure you take the following safety procedures
- Rather use fireworks you have bought from a reputable dealer than trying to make your own.
- Do not shoot any fireworks if there are not adults around and if you have smaller siblings, make sure that they stay a safe distance from the fireworks.
- Make sure that you follow the instructions given on the fireworks. Remember that fireworks are dangerous and not toys.
- The fireworks you buy must be appropriate for where you are going to use them. You cannot use fireworks that make huge flames and fires in an area with a lot of houses.
- Use and light only one firework at a time and keep the one that you light away from the others. Just imagine if all the fireworks start going off at once and shooting across the ground where you are standing. Somebody will get hurt.
- Once the fireworks are done shooting, still put them in some sand or water to make sure that there are no 'fire' left behind that did not go off or that they can burn somebody that picks it up.
- Try and 'plant' the firework in sand before you light it and preferably do not hold it in your hand.
- Do not bend over fireworks that are already lit.
- Do not point the fireworks in the direction of other people.
- Never ever scare animals with your fireworks or force them to be close to the fireworks.
Accidents happen easily so if you 'want to play with fire' you need to be extra careful. Do not think that it will never happen to you that you will get hurt, because it can happen to anybody.
If you get burned go and see the doctor and if somebody gets a spark in their eye, do not rub it or try and wash it out with water. Get to a doctor as quickly as possible so that they can assist you.
Jeez. I hurt myself doing this in my childhood. It might be easy to overlook this post but it's important for kids and even adult. During festive season here, no one cares about the dangers when shooting fireworks.
I am very scared of fire works - tried shooting it once and it was not a good experience
I see people shooting fireworks all the time at the cottage. They are not always being very careful either. So many people out shooting fireworks after they have been drinking all day. Not cool. We love attending the city fireworks show. Free and better.
Yes I can also get very mad at people like that - always feel so sorry for the animals
The Tree of Life, or Etz haChayim (עץ החיים) has upvoted you with divine emanations of Gods creation itself ex nihilo. We reveal Light by transforming our Desire to Receive for Ourselves to a Desire to Receive for Others. I am one of the 10 attributes/emanations part of the Curator Guild (Sephiroth), through which Ein Sof (The Infinite) reveals Itself.