Fireworks were developed more than 1000 years back at Liuyang, China to frighten away evil spirits. However, the only thing that should frighten people today is to use fireworks in a reckless manner.
To ensure that fireworks are enjoyable and safe take a look at the following 13 tricks to make sure everyone is away from danger when playing with pyrotechnics.
1. Find the best place
Make sure to use fireworks only in flat, open solid, non-flammable and safe places. A few of these tips may appear obvious, but the data suggest otherwise.
If you’re planning on setting off fireworks that are legal, make sure you do it in a secure location.
How do you choose a secure place to light fireworks:
Find a spot that is flat and hard–similar to the snow, dirt concrete, sand or even stone.
Avoid areas that have grass, trees and buildings that may catch fire.
Be aware about noise. Put off fireworks in a location that isn’t too noisy for your neighbors pet, veterans, or even pets.
2. Create a safe perimeter
Use caution tape to establish an area for lighting and launch that is away from any people watching. While consumer-grade fireworks are smaller than mortars employed by professional fireworks but they still pose a risk.
Ground-based: If your have an outdoor firework such as fountains, watching from at least 35 feet is recommended.
Aerial: To see fireworks that are aerial, you’ll need all participants to walk back an approximate distance of 150 feet.
3. Be patient and wait for weather conditions that are suitable.
A day that is windy can be a catastrophe in the event of lighting fireworks. If it’s very turbulent, you should postpone the fireworks display until the next day. Winds that are strong could push sparks away from the safety zone and into nearby buildings, houses as well as trees and grass and result in fires.
Gusts can also be dangerous for your family and friends. They could send sparks towards the person you are with, while fireworks could be thrown off and explode into your direction.
4. Plan for accidental fires
Keep water (or an extinguisher to put out fires) near. If anything goes wrong, you’ll need an bucket of water or a hose close to help extinguish the fire.
For something lighter and more durable than a water bucket you could consider keeping an extinguisher for fire near the area where you will be firing fireworks.
How much water do you require?
Firefighters employ a formula to establish water ratios to put out the flames:
[(length of the object that is on fire) (3x) x percentage in involvement equals gallons per minute required to set the flames
For instance, if have a 10’x 15 tool shed that’s ignited and half of it is burning it will require 25 gallons water per minutes (GPM) to flush the fire out (garden hoses typically produce upwards of 17 GPM).4 This might sound like a shocking number however it shows the things you must do to be prepared for the worst, and how fast you must react when you encounter a fire.
5. Start moving immediately after you have lit the fuse
Then, light it and get as far away from it as you can. Tragic accidents happen when people get too close to fireworks that explode. One of the most gruesome incidents occurred in 2015, when a man was killed by using the head of his body as a launch pad.5 Other injuries that can be caused by accident include burns, cuts and losing legs.
More than half of the 10,000 firework-related accidents in 2019 were caused by burns to the face hands, hands and legs. That means that many people are too close to be comfortable with fireworks. Be a good sport and keep at a distance!
6. Keep track of your progress by setting off one firework at a moment.
There’s no guarantee that more fireworks will be more effective. The legal fuses have to be lit for at least three seconds, but it’s not a long time by itself. If you’re burning multiple fuse there’s a shorter time to get out.
We’ve mentioned that safe spectating distances for fireworks range between 35 and 150 feet. So you’ll need every second that you have to.
7. Supervise your kids
Don’t be fooled by something as insignificant as a sparkler , especially when you’re with your kids. Sparklers were responsible for 12percent of all injuries reported in the year 2019. This makes them more risky than fireworks.
Sparklers can burn up to 1200 degrees F. They can cause third degree burns. To put it in perspective glass melts at around temperatures of 900 degrees.
While they’re fun to watch for Fourth of July celebrations and other occasions, ensure that you’re present to supervise your children will be having fun with these types of fireworks. Be sure to ensure they stay away from bigger fireworks as well.
8. Disconnect from false fireworks
Duds are always a danger. Sometimes fireworks fail to explode. The most important thing to remember in this case is that you must not try to ignite or attempt to attempt to relight a firework that has failed.
Allow them to rest for 5-10 mins before you place them in the water in a bucket. This will prevent injuries caused by a delayed explosion, and eliminate the firework completely so that you are able to dispose of it.
9. Dispose of fireworks properly
Do not dispose of used fireworks directly into the garbage. After your fireworks are successfully ejected in a flash of glory, you should soak the charred remnants in a bucket of water. This stops fireworks from sparking the fire of other fireworks and posing a risk to safety.
10. Avoid fireworks that are not legal
Don’t buy illegal fireworks. Legal fireworks are sold in a fireworks store after rigorous safety inspections.
The CPSC prohibits fireworks that don’t conform to strict standards:
Ground-based fireworks that contain more than 50 milligrams of powder
Aerial fireworks that have greater than 130mg of powder
Furies that burn for less than three seconds , or greater than nine seconds
Make sure you purchase your fireworks from licensed sellers. Illegal fireworks do not meet safety standards since they’re usually too big for the intended use.
The purchase of illegal fireworks could result in a ticket and/or jail time or even serious injury. Even if you think that people in the street won’t notice it’s a bit difficult to hide an “boom” that large.
11. Check your local laws
There are some areas that do not permit fireworks. Certain areas restrict the use of fireworks like sparklers and firecrackers.
12. It is safer to drink and be sober.
Do not play with fireworks while you’re intoxicated. Explosives that you light when you’re not able to keep your head about you can be risky. If you drink you lose the capacity to assess situations in a rational manner. The speed of your reaction slows and your coordination decreases.
Do not put yourself in the position to put yourself in danger or other people. If you’re planning to drink or smoking, please don’t ignite fireworks. Simple as it sounds.
13. Let the pros handle it.
If you are able, go to an experienced firework show instead of making one your own. The shows feature amazing pyrotechnics you can’t purchase in stores and are a step ahead of what you can do with the show you put on yourself.
Professionals are also able to protect people and you’ll never need to be concerned about being too close or sustaining burns.
Final word
Whatever you choose to do, you must know the fundamentals of firework safety. So, nothing will interfere with having fun and both you and your guests will be safe.
Copyright Reseau Actu.