Tips to stay safe while setting off fireworks this holiday weekend - WMTV - NBC15

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - Fireworks are without a doubt a large part of Fourth of July celebrations. As we head into the holiday weekend, health officials are offering tips to set them off safely.

Approximately 10,000 Americans sought medical attention for firework related injuries in 2019, CDC numbers show. Last year, UW Health says they treated 15 people or fireworks-related trauma or burns.

“It’s unusual to go a whole holiday weekend without seeing at least one person who’s had a fireworks-related injury, and quite often, it’s more than one,” said emergency room physician Dr. Jeff Pothof. “We hope that they’re just minor injuries, minor burns that we can treat.”

Pothof warned that burns on hands from things like sparklers and fireworks can be tricky, and should be treated early to prevent infection and worse injury.

Additionally, while things like smaller sparklers can be fun for children, he encourages parents to make sure their kids are old enough to use them. He also said glow sticks can be an alternative.

“Sometimes, especially smaller kids, if they’re holding that sparkler, those small embers can strike their arm or their wrist. It doesn’t cause a problem, but it causes that little tingle or sting sensation,” he said. “Sometimes those small kids get excited about that and they drop that sparkler, sometimes that ends up going on a bare foot and before you know it, you’ve got a really nasty burn on their foot. Sometimes they end up throwing it and it strikes someone else, even that second of contact can cause a big burn.”

Those who are setting off fireworks are advised by UW Health not to experiment with them. Re-lighting, throwing or pointing fireworks at people are also considered unsafe practices.

Dr. Pothof also warned against lighting fireworks while intoxicated.

“Especially in adults, those really severe burn injuries that we see oftentimes happen in folks who are pretty intoxicated,” he said. “So if you’re going to drink alcoholic beverages this weekend, pick a designated firework lighter and let that person who’s sober do the lighting of the fireworks, just because we often see those things go hand in hand.”

Health officials encourage the community to attend public displays of fireworks, but below are a few tips in case you decide to set some off yourself.

• Hold a sparkler out in front of you with your arm completely extended and stand at least three feet away from someone holding a sparkler
• Have a designated sober adult light all legal fireworks
• Light one firework at a time and move away quickly
• Keep children and other observers at a safe distance and behind a protective barrier
• Store fireworks out of the reach of children
• Keep a bucket of water or a hose close for disposal of fireworks

UW Health added giving children glowsticks is a safer option, as sparklers can reach 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

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