Fireworks cause thousands of injuries each year, and more than 19,500 reported fires are started by fireworks annually. Children aged 10 to 14 have the highest rate of fireworks-related injuries, at 36%.

To stay safe this New Year’s Eve, follow these safety precautions to ensure your celebrations remain bright for all the right reasons.

Always:

• Store fireworks in a cool, dry place away from children and pets. This helps ensure they won’t accidentally ignite or become a hazard.
• Choose a location away from buildings and trees to light fireworks. Always remember to look up and around, and keep at least 30 feet away from buildings, trees and other hazards for ground-based fireworks, 100 feet away for aerial fireworks.
• Have an adult handle any fireworks, not children or teens. 
• If people are watching, make sure they keep a safe distance. To protect your hearing as well as your physical safety, ideally stay 500 feet away from aerial firework displays.
• Be sure to read fireworks labels and follow directions carefully.
• Keep a fire extinguisher or bucket of water nearby. If a fire does break out, you want to be able to respond immediately.
• Light fireworks one at a time and wear eye and protection.
• Discard fireworks as directed. They should be cool to the touch before you dispose of them.
• Avoid sparklers; they account for one-quarter of emergency room fireworks injuries. No child under age 12 should use sparklers. Glow sticks can be a safer alternative. 

Never:

• Drink alcohol when using fireworks.
• Light fireworks inside or near other objects.
• Stand over fireworks while lighting them, and always remember to back up immediately after lighting.
• Point fireworks toward people, buildings, or trees. Even if they’re not lit, this is a very dangerous practice should something accidentally happen.
• Attempt to relight a firework that doesn’t go off.
• Light fireworks during a dry season or burn ban. It is essential to check with local officials, as local ordinances may restrict the use of fireworks.

If you want to stay completely safe – leave fireworks to the professionals on New Year’s Eve. Check your local listings for events where you can see fireworks lit off by trained professionals. Alternatively, skip fiery celebrations altogether and celebrate with other traditions, such as banging pots and pans outside, attending a balloon drop or simply toasting to a new year.

At CertaSite, fire and life safety is our passion. For even more fire and life safety tips, check out our other blog posts at CertaSitePro.com.