WASHINGTON — Fireworks are beautiful, but they can be very dangerous if they are not handled properly.
Fireworks can cause serious burns and/or eye injuries. On average, 180 people go to the emergency room every day with fireworks-related injuries in the month around the July 4th holiday.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission released a handful of videos on Twitter to show the real damage fireworks can cause to humans.
The agency used mannequins to represent what would happen if someone decided to do something dumb, like launch a bottle rocket off their head.
What would happen if someone launches a firework at another person?
Exhibit A:
Exhibit B:
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission even tested what would happen if someone didn't move away from lighting a firework fast enough.
Crews even made a representation of someone making their own fireworks.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission gave these firework safety tips:
- Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
- Avoid buying fireworks that are packaged in brown paper because this is often a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and that they could pose a danger to consumers.
- Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities. Parents don't realize that young children suffer injuries from sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees - hot enough to melt some metals.
- Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Back up to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.
- Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully.
- Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
- Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishaps.
- Light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly.
- Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.
- After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding it to prevent a trash fire.
- Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.