Fireworks Safety Tips
Fireworks provide exciting entertainment, but thousands of people are injured each year by personal firework use. The most common injuries associated with fireworks are both serious and minor burns, loss of hearing or sight or both, and even death.
So everyone can have fun while injuries are reduced this summer, protect your kids and loved ones with some safety tips for using fireworks from the National Council on Fireworks.
Most importantly, young children should not to handle or use fireworks. Things like firecrackers, rockets, and sparklers are just too dangerous. However, many parents allow their children to use sparklers—a handheld, slow-burning firework. Sparklers can get extremely hot and account for many firework-related injuries. Make sure to watch children closely if they are using sparklers.
Here are some other general firework safety tips worth considering:
- A responsible adult should supervise all firework activities.
- Obey all local laws regarding the use of fireworks, and know your fireworks—read the labels and performance descriptions before igniting.
- Wear safety glasses when shooting fireworks, and light one firework at a time and then quickly move away.
- Use fireworks outdoors in a clear area, away from buildings, vehicles, dried brush, grass, or anything that has the potential to catch on fire.
- Dispose of spent fireworks by wetting them down and place in a metal trash can away from any building or combustible materials until the next day.
In addition, always have a bucket of water and water hose nearby. Never relight a “dud” firework—wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water. Never carry fireworks in your pocket or shoot them into metal or glass containers, and do not experiment with homemade fireworks or illegal explosives. Plus alcohol and fireworks do not mix. Save your alcohol for after the show.
WE’RE HERE FOR YOU!
In case of an emergency, please call 9-1-1 or go directly to an emergency nearest to you.
Emergency Room
98 Poplar St.
Blackfoot, ID 83221
(208) 785-4100
Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Bingham Healthcare’s Urgent Cares
If you are a loved one need medical care that does not require a trip to the ER, all of our urgent cares throughout Eastern Idaho are currently open. However, for non-emergent situations, Bingham Healthcare has three urgent cares at the following locations:
BLACKFOOT
1st Choice Urgent Care & Family Medicine
Riverside Plaza (across from McDonald’s)
1350 Parkway Drive
Blackfoot, ID 83221
(208) 782-2410
IDAHO FALLS
Ammon Medical & Urgent Care
3456 E. 17th St., Suite 125
(located near the corner of 17th St. and Ammon Rd.)
Ammon, ID 83406
(208) 529-2828
POCATELLO
1st Choice Urgent Care – Bannock Highway
1595 Bannock Highway
Pocatello, ID 83204
(208) 239-6511
NOW IN SHELLEY, TOO!
275 West Locust
Shelley, ID 83274
P: (208) 357-3960
All Urgent Cares Hours of Operation
Mon. to Fri.: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sat. & Sun.: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Learn more about when it’s best to visit the ER or Urgent Care
This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.
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