Stay Safe this Fourth of July

... and keep ‎you and your family safe this year by leaving the fireworks to trained professionals. ‎

Attend the fireworks display in your community rather than hosting your own light show ‎since even sparklers are dangerous, and children are the ones most often injured. If you do ‎choose to buy and light fireworks, please heed this advice:‎

• Never allow children to touch fireworks of any kind, including sparklers. ‎
• Older teens should only be allowed to use fireworks under close adult supervision.‎
• Fireworks must never be used while drinking alcohol or using other drugs.‎
• Obey all local laws.‎
• If allowed in your area and you choose to do so, buy fireworks only from reliable ‎sellers.‎
• Store fireworks in a dry, cool place.‎
• Only use fireworks outdoors and always have a good amount of water close by (a ‎garden hose and a bucket), in case of emergency.‎
• Read and follow label directions.‎
• Light only one firework at a time.‎
• Never hold any part of your body directly over the firework while lighting it.‎
• Be sure all other people are out of range before lighting fireworks.‎
• Never throw or point fireworks at anyone.‎
• Never light fireworks in a container, especially a metal or glass container.‎
• Never light fireworks near a house or building, dry leaves or grass, or any other ‎materials that can catch on fire.‎
• Never re-light a "dud" firework. Instead, wait 15 to 20 minutes, then soak it in a ‎bucket of water and throw it away.‎

Information contained in this article was adapted from the American Academy of Pediatrics ‎and the Consumer Product Safety Commission.‎