In
the beginning of 2018 a new penal law was passed which allows both the sale and
use of small fireworks, referred to as “Sparkling Devices”. This use is limited
by the size, type, and construction of the sparkling device, Some counties have
prohibited their use altogether. Review the details of the penal law, and see if your
county has legalized these devices.
If
by chance you live in a county where these devices are legal you’ll want to
take the following precautions to ensure that you are doing so, safely.
● Be knowledgeable of all the
laws regarding fireworks and their use in your area.
● Purchase your fireworks from
a reputable source, and carefully read the warning labels.
● Fireworks should only be used
by adults -- do not set off fireworks near children.
● Alcohol and fireworks do not
mix -- If you’re setting them off make sure you haven’t consumed alcohol.
● Wear safety glasses when
setting off fireworks.
● Light one firework at a time
and then quickly move away.
● Use fireworks OUTDOORS in a
clear area; away from buildings and vehicles.
● Never relight a “dud”
firework. Wait 20 minutes and then soak
it in a bucket of water.
● Always have a bucket of water
and charged water hose nearby.
● Never carry fireworks in your
POCKET or shoot them into METAL or GLASS containers.
● Do not experiment with
homemade fireworks.
● Dispose of spent fireworks by
wetting them down and placing them in a metal trash can away from any building
or combustible materials until the next day.
● Don’t bring your pets to a
fireworks display, even a small one.
● If fireworks are being used
near your home, put your pet in a safe, interior room to avoid exposure to the
sound.
● Make sure your pet has an
identification tag, in case it runs off during a fireworks display.
● Never shoot fireworks of any
kind (consumer fireworks, sparklers, fountains, etc.) near pets.[1]
Fire
is an amazingly powerful element, and it’s important that we treat it as such.
As you’ve hopefully gathered, it’s important to always take the proper safety
precautions when dealing with fire -- always protect yourself and those around
you by using the necessary equipment and have a water source nearby.
