Stay safe around fireworks with these six tips

With families gathering to celebrate the Fourth of July, it's important to keep safety in mind to prevent injury. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 10,200 people were injured by fireworks in 2022 and injuries continue to rise every year. Injuries can be avoided with the right steps and self-awareness. No matter how you decide to celebrate Fourth of July, staying safe should be the first step to having fun.

Follow these six tips to safely enjoy your Fourth of July:

Monitor children, all the time

Children make up more than one third of firework emergency room related visits—largely due to the use of sparklers. Sparklers may be easy for children to use during your celebration, but this hand-held firework can burn up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit and easily cause severe burns. Don't allow young children to light or hold any fireworks and older children should only do so under adult supervision.

Read the instructions

Fireworks can explode. Following the instructions on fireworks packaging is crucial for safe handling and operation. Ignoring or overlooking instructions can lead to accidents or injuries.

Stay a safe distance away

When watching fireworks, make sure to maintain a safe distance between you and the display. Fireworks can be unpredictable and can malfunction or explode. If your family is lighting fireworks in front of your home, make sure to place all fireworks in the middle of the street (away from parked cars) and stay at least 35 feet away until the firework has completely stopped.

Keep your fireworks cool and on the ground

Taking simple safety steps can reduce injury and accidental fires. Store fireworks in a cool, dry place, and only light fireworks on the ground, away from any person or vehicle. Do not attempt to light fireworks while holding them or placing them on top of any other object. If a firework does not ignite, throw it in a bucket of water and do not attempt to relight it.

Have water on hand

With the hot and dry Central Valley weather, it's important to have water on hand when doing your own fireworks display. Keep a bucket of water nearby and submerge all non-working and used fireworks completely into the water. This will ensure used fireworks cannot unexpectedly catch fire again. It's also advised to have a hose nearby in the event an accidental fire starts.

Attend a professional display

The best way to stay safe during the holiday but still enjoy fireworks is to not do it yourself—attend an event hosting a professional firework display instead. This way you can still get to enjoy fireworks, family time and rest well knowing all safety measures are being taken.

Here when you need help

Accidents happen. Should you or someone you love experience a fireworks-related injury during the holiday, the care team at Saint Agnes is here to help. We make finding care easier with the online tool Find Care Now. Whether you need to visit an urgent care or go to the emergency room, Find Care Now relieves some of the stress by letting you view wait times and it lets our team know you're on your way so we can prepare for your arrival.

Need Care Now?

If you or someone you love is experiencing a life-threatening medical emergency, please call 9-1-1 immediately. If you need to visit an urgent care or the emergency room, click below to view current wait times and let us know you're on your way.

Find Care Now