Firework Safety

Brats on the grill? Beer in the cooler? With the Fourth of July here at last, the Sharks expect that many of our clients and readers will be lighting off fireworks in their backyards. The sharks have seen plenty of fireworks injuries, but we’d rather you and your family stay safe. Of course, fireworks are never totally safe (not to mention mostly illegal in Chicago and most of Illinois). On that note, follow these tips for a safer firework experience:

1. Keep water nearby – preferrably a running hose, but a bucket of water is better than nothing.
2. Never stand above a firework while lighting or after its been lit. Sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised.
3. Never light more than one firework at a time and never relight a dud. Pour water on it and move on to the next one.
4. We’ve had a wet summer in the Midwest, but be sure to point fireworks away from trees, brush and homes.
5. Never light a firework in your hand. Some fireworks look like they might be safe to shoot by hand… trust the sharks, they’re not.
6. Water down your fireworks before throwing them out. Any unexploded powder could easily start a fire.

Always remember, if you’re injured by a firework, call a doctor immediately or visit your local emergency room. If someone is hit in the eye by a firework, see an ophthalmologist immediately. Don’t try to flush the wound or take action yourself. And, of course, a visit to the national council on firework safety is never a bad idea. And remember to obey the law.