Firework Safety Rules for Kids

Adults need to be aware of fireworks safety rules, and so do children who are watching. The more informed the kids are, the less likely they will be involved in a fireworks accident.

Before the Fireworks

• Make sure you are using only fireworks that are legal in your state. There are reasons for the banning of certain fireworks, such as safety concerns. Explain to your children the dangers of fireworks and give them a written emergency number to call in case something goes wrong, along with the address of your fireworks display. Fill a bucket of water or set up a fire hose, and have a fire extinguisher on hand.

During the Fireworks

• Never allow your children to light the fireworks. This should be done only by a responsible adult. Move all children to a safe distance from the fireworks and have them remain there until the show is finished. Make sure the fireworks are set off pointing to the sky and not to the side. To prevent injuries and fires, it is important that the fireworks are never thrown or held in a person's hands while being lit. Because fireworks are very loud, you may want to place ear muffs on young children. This will help to prevent any damage to the ear drum.

After the Fireworks

• When the fireworks display is finished, there will be a lot of debris to pick up. If there were any fireworks that did not light properly, approached with caution, waiting at least fifteen minutes after someone last tried lighting them. Place the faulty fireworks and the firework debris into a bucket of water. This will ensure that none of them will relight. Put all unused fireworks and lighters far out of the reach of children so they can't try to light them. Supervise children before, during and after the fireworks and you should not have a problem.