Fireworks!!!

You may be a redneck if... your lifetime goal is to own a fireworks stand. Jeff Foxworthy

When I was a child in Idaho, my uncle purchased two large grocery bags filled with fireworks. He set these near the base of a tether ball pole. Then he attached a sparking wheel to the top of the pole and lit it. Some sparks fell in to the bags and started a chain reaction of explosions as everything went off. It was exciting for all of 60 seconds but not what he intended.

Tomorrow is July 4 and you may be setting off some fireworks of your own (legal or illegal?) Here are some safety tips:

• Use fireworks outdoors only


• Don’t combine fireworks or try to build your own from the powder. Light one at a time.


• Light the fireworks with a long match or torch and get away quickly.


• Never relight a "dud" firework. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water


• The shooter should wear safety glasses


• The shooter should be an adult and sober


• Only light fireworks on a smooth, flat surface away from the house, dry leaves, and flammable materials. If lighting fireworks on grass, lay down a flat wooden board for a shooting surface.


• A minimum clear radius of 30 feet for fountains and other ground based items and 100 yards for any aerial product is recommended.


• Do not carry fireworks in your pocket or on your person.


• Never smoke when working with fireworks


• Keep a bucket of water or fire extinguisher on hand, just in case


• If you allow young children to use a sparkler (min age 12 is suggested), then warn them never to touch the sparking end. The tip of a sparkler burns at over 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, which is hot enough to cause third-degree burns and melt glass.


• Children should never pick up firework fragments or duds that may be left over, they may still be active.

Bottom Line

Each year about 10,000 people are injured by fireworks in the US. It’s important to put the most space between you and the firework when lighting. Never use short matches. You don’t want your fingers an inch from a possible explosion.