Many of us gather with family and friends to celebrate one of our favorite holidays – The Fourth of July. Whether you plan to be at a lake or grilling out by the pool this Independence Day, we can all agree that Fireworks and the Fourth of July go hand in hand. Before you begin celebrating this wonderful holiday, below are some tips to stay safe this Fourth of July.
Fireworks
In 2017, nearly 13,000 people required medical attention due to firework related injuries. Children and young adults (under 20) made up 50% of those injuries. In addition to the thousands of personal injuries, fireworks start approximately 18,500 fires per year which amount to $43 million in property damage. The National Fire Protection Association is opposed to consumer use of fireworks because of the thousands of injuries caused each year. There are various public firework shows put on by experts in Indianapolis:
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IPL Downtown Freedom Fest
– Event starts at 6:30 pm July 4th at Indiana War Memorial at 55 E. Michigan Street
– Includes festivities, food trucks, music
– Fireworks will be set off at 10:00 pm from the Regions Tower -
Party on the Plaza
– Fireworks display from 7 to 11 pm July 4th at the Indianapolis City Market
– Whistler Plaza will offer games, food, live music -
Fourth Fest – Lawrence
– Carnival from July 28th – July 4th at Lawrence Community Park
– Fireworks will start at 10 pm July 4th
A more comprehensive list with further details can be found on the IndyStar. If you are not in the Indianapolis area, you can look on your local news for details of public firework displays.
At-Home Firework Displays
If you plan to celebrate with your own fireworks, then be sure to read the following safety tips provided by United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.
- Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks
- Avoid buying fireworks packaged in brown paper because that often signals they were made for professional displays and that could pose increased danger to consumers.
- Always have adult supervision over firework activities, including sparklers
- Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees, hot enough to melt some metals and cause 3rd degree burns
- Sparklers account for roughly one-quarter of ER firework injuries
- Never point or throw fireworks at another person
- Keep a bucket of water or a hose close
- Light fireworks one at a time and move back quickly and immediately after lighting
- Never shoot fireworks off in a metal or glass container
- Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not fully ignited
- After fireworks are finished burnings, douse them in water before discarding to prevent fire
- Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying and lighting them
While you celebrate Independence Day this year, be aware of the dangers surrounding fireworks. Be especially cautious when lighting your own at home in order to prevent injuries and fires from occurring. Take any additional steps you believe are necessary to avoid a disastrous event form ruining your holiday. Happy Fourth of July from your Indianapolis Injury Attorneys!