Fireworks Safety | Talking FACS

Host: Dr. Jennifer Hunter, Assistant Director for Family and Consumer Sciences Extension, University of Kentucky

Guest: Natalie Jones, Extension Program Coordinator for Physical Activity

Episode 4

0:00 Welcome to Talking FACS. What you need to know about family, food, finance and fitness. Hosted by the University of Kentucky Family and Consumer Sciences Extension program. Our educators share research knowledge with individuals, families and communities to improve quality of life.

0:20 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: Hello and welcome back to Talking FACS. This is your host, Dr. Jennifer Hunter, Assistant Director for Family Consumer Sciences Extension at the University of Kentucky. Today, I'm pleased to be joined by Natalie Jones, our Physical Activity Coordinator, who's going to share information with us on sparking up a conversation about fireworks safety. Natalie, thank you so much for joining us today.

0:42 Natalie Jones: Glad to be here.

0:43 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: I think that obviously, this is a very timely topic and one that people often are seeking more information about. And so, people love to celebrate the 4th of July with parades, parties and fireworks; often setting off fireworks all summer long. I know that that's one of the complaints that my kiddos have at home is that it will keep them up at night; just people continuing to set off their fireworks. But fireworks are a lot of fun, but we also know that they can be dangerous. So, let's start just by talking about some of the risks associated with fireworks.

1:15 Natalie Jones: Exactly. So, first, it is extremely important to mention that a lot of neighborhoods do not allow shooting off fireworks; it is against the law. So, it's really important that you check with your local ordinances to see if using fireworks are illegal in your community. However, that does not stop people as we know. So, if you do plan to shoot off fireworks legally, it is so important to do it safely.

1:43 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: And so, if you are going to just share some general tips about fireworks safety and why is fireworks safety important.

1:50 Natalie Jones: I think it is critical that people understand the potential for injuries related to fireworks. It's not just something fun and exciting to see. There are a lot of risks involved. The explosive power and heat associated with these products can cause serious injuries and even life threatening injuries, if used improperly.

Last year approximately 15 thousand Americans were injured from fireworks and majority of that occurred during the 4th of July. Those injuries include permanent loss of eyesight, loss of hearing, and a loss of a limb and oftentimes, this occurs because the firework is being used improperly. And then again, we always have those burns; even severe burns that can happen on the face or hands. That's really common as well.

So, truly, the only safe way to enjoy fireworks for the 4th of July is to attend a public event where the professionals are in control of the fireworks and your family can just sit back and enjoy the show.

2:51 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: I know that that's something that we always enjoy doing as a family and I thought it was kind of interesting. And also, I think, speaks to the importance of this topic. But just as I was sharing with some of my friends or family members or co-workers about you joining us as a guest today to talk about fireworks safety, I was really amazed at the number of people that said, “Oh, well, you know, one summer, my son” or “One of my best friend's daughters had a firework accident” or “When I was a kid, this happened to me”. That firework injuries are really common. And so, can you share with us a little bit more about what causes those injuries and maybe if there's things that we can do to help prevent them?

3:32 Natalie Jones: Right. So, home fireworks displays cause thousands of preventable injuries across the United States and most of those injuries come from improper use – people not reading the instructions. A short fuse, just being a defective product. A lot of times, obviously, these are illegal fireworks that people are using at home. If people relight fireworks or if you have an erratic flight of a firework, that could cause a fire. And then one of the major issues with safety and fireworks is when drinking is involved while people are lighting fireworks.

I think in order to lessen someone's chance of being injured, there are five tips that I would just have as a basic rule for families in any neighborhood for firework celebrations would be:

1) Children should never be permitted to light the fireworks. There should always be adult supervision if a child has a sparkler or anything like that.

2) Make sure that you read all fireworks instructions carefully. Again, 68% of firework injuries are caused by misuse. So, really make sure that you know what you're trying to set off.

3) Remember that alcohol and fireworks don't mix. So, make sure that you have a designated person who is going to set off those fireworks.

4) Wear protective eyewear. That is key in injury prevention.

And then,

5) You really want to be careful when picking up firework debris. A lot of people forget about this. That can still be really hot and dangerous to touch after they've been set off. So, you want to make sure that you wait around 20 minutes, when you've completed the fireworks show, to pick up those pieces. And then before you put those pieces into the trash can, pour some water on them to reduce the chance of a fire being started.

5:21 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: I know that those are all tips that I can share at home. It seems like every summer, my husband I have a conversation about, “Oh, it's not really safe to hold a firework in our hand” or “You know, we shouldn't light it while holding it” and things such as that.

And obviously, he's not purposely trying to get injured or to be unsafe with the fireworks; maybe it was just things that he did when he was younger or he's just not adequately measuring the risks. So, all good tips to share at home.

So, when setting off fireworks, what are some additional ways that people can stay as safe as possible?

5:58 Natalie Jones: Again, just like you mentioned, you don't want to hold fireworks in your hand when you're setting them off.

6:02 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: That’s a key.

6:03 Natalie Jones: Yes, very key to injury prevention or have any part of your body over the fire while you are lighting it. Again, wear eye protection. And this seems like common sense, but accidents happen. You don't want to carry fireworks in your pocket or firecrackers; anything like that. Because sometimes, that friction can set them off. So, that's something just to be aware of.

Again, always keep fireworks pointed away from homes or from people. That may seem like a joke, but again, accidents happen; it's not a safe situation.

And then you want to make sure you don't point fireworks towards any type of brush or leaves. And then any flammable liquids or substances, such as gasoline should definitely be kept from a distance of where you're shooting off these fireworks. Because last year, 50 thousand fires were caused by fireworks.

6:55 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: Oh, wow!

6:56 Natalie Jones: Exactly. So, it's not just injuries related to shooting them off, but what can happen afterwards as well.

7:04 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: All good points. Another thing that I think about with July 4th and fireworks is that I know they're very difficult on pets; maybe especially dogs.

7:13 Natalie Jones: Yes.

7:14 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: Do you have tips or information that you can share about what to do with our animals?

7:19 Natalie Jones: Yes. So, definitely think about your pet. A lot of issues can happen with them being spooked by the noise of fireworks, if they are outside or even inside or getting burned from the debris of the fireworks. So, the best thing to do for animals is to just keep them inside during those big celebrations, because they do have sensitive ears and can be frightened. So, when you keep them indoors, that really reduce the risk that they'll either get lost or that they'll be injured.

7:45 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: I know, when I was a kid, that our family dog, he would go and hide in the bath tub every year when the neighborhood firework celebrations were going off. Are there items that people can keep on hand, just in case of a firework related injury?

8:00 Natalie Jones: Yes. So, I would say the best thing to keep on hand is water. For example, with a burn, like the most common type of injury, the number one thing you can do is to cool it off and take the heat out of the energy. So, you have water.

Then another thing that's helpful with water is unexpected events. If your grass starts to be on fire, then you can again, pour water on it, as well as sparklers. So, these get extremely hot and they appear safe, but they burn and can easily ignite clothing or cause severe burning. So, being able to drop those sparklers into a bucket of water immediately after it's gone out really keeps that danger away and is incredibly important for young kids.

8:42 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: And I do think that that's great for kids, so that they know exactly where that sparkle is to go. Because I think, especially for our small ones, the sparkler might be one of the most popular type of fireworks. So, it's just that they're instructed before they even start. That as soon as your sparkler burns out or you finish with it, make certain that you put it down in the bucket of water.

9:01 Natalie Jones: Exactly.

9:03 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: So, can you share with us signs that an injury may be serious enough to seek additional medical attention or even to get into the E.R.?

9:11 Natalie Jones: Yes. So, anything with your eyes; that is the most important thing. A foreign body in the eye can cause major problems that can last a lifetime. So, a significant injury or a foreign body into the eye. You need to go and have a doctor look at it.

Second, any break in the skin. If your skin actually breaks, then you need to make sure that you go and get seen by a doctor. But minor burns can be treated at home.

9:37 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: So, let's talk a little bit about those minor burns. How would we go about treating them now?

9:42 Natalie Jones: Right. So, most minor burns can be treated at home, especially if they are about the size of a quarter. The first thing you want to do is to cool it off. So, stop that burning process immediately by running it under a clean, cool water for a few minutes and then you want to really keep that skin intact.

So, if a blister does form, try not to pop it. That skin is a natural band-aid and will help in the healing process. So, just leave it alone and it will dry up and come off on its own.

The things that are most concerning are those larger burns or burns over joints. So, if you burn your fingers – if you're holding onto something and it goes off in your hand, that burn can obviously contract and limit some of your fingers’ mobility. So, you want to have that looked at, at a doctor. And then any burn or break with open skin; like firecracker again goes off in your hand, there could be more damage than just that burn, because of the force that that firecracker went off with. So, any open wound, obviously, again has a higher risk of infection. So, those need to be looked at.

10:45 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: Great tips. And also, I do not want to pass over what you mentioned about eye injuries and the seriousness of eye injuries. So, could you talk a little bit more about what to do if you experience an eye injury?

10:57 Natalie Jones: Right. So, the number one thing that you want to do with an eye injury is to seek treatment for anything regarding your eyes. They are so important.

So, if anything is lodged in the eye, do not rub your eyes. That's hard because that's like your first instinct. Get your hands up on your face, but try not to and try not to remove it if it is a large item. Again, try to cover both eyes and seek medical attention immediately.

So, again, the safest thing that you can do if you're around fireworks, setting them off, is to wear safety goggles or glasses to protect your eyes.

11:30 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: Great tips and thinking about my family home, especially, we have one very young kiddo. Are there some alternatives or other fun things that families can do to celebrate the 4th that do not include fireworks?

11:45 Natalie Jones: Right. So, you want to have kids involved in that celebration; it's fun, it's exciting time. So, glow sticks, bubbles, silly string, noisemakers and confetti poppers or even water balloons. Those are all fun and safe alternatives to fireworks or sparklers, but they still feel like they're doing something that's exciting, but it's safe as well.

12:05 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: And definitely, all things that kiddos enjoy as well. So, Natalie, again I want to thank you for joining us today. And as we wrap up, what would be just a few key points of advice that you would give to someone thinking about shooting off fireworks for fun?

12:22 Natalie Jones: First tip, go to a professional show; just leave it to the professionals. Again, that's the safest approach. But if you are going to enjoy fireworks, just be prepared for anything.

Number one, protect your eyes. Always have a bucket of sand and water handy and then make sure to leave the handling of fireworks to a designated adult and to keep those fireworks away from children.

Again, holidays like 4th of July are celebrations and fun, but you want to make sure that everyone knows that there is safety issues and that they need to follow the rules to be safe. So, that way, it is an enjoyable celebration.

12:58 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: Definitely. And last night, I was looking online to figure out when the professional show is going to be hosted in our local area, the times, best viewing spots. And so, just to really encourage folks. Like you said, spend time with the family, enjoying the 4th and take those professional shows that are available throughout our local communities.

13:19 Natalie Jones: Exactly.

13:20 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: Thank you again for joining us, Natalie.

13:22 Natalie Jones: Thank you

13:23 Thank you for listening to Talking FACS. We deliver programs focusing on nutrition, health, resource management, family development and civic engagement. If you enjoyed today's podcast, have a question or a show topic idea, leave a like and comment on Facebook at UKFCSExt. Visit us online at fcs.uky.edu or contact your local extension agent for Family and Consumer Sciences. We build strong families. It starts with us.