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Fireworks Safety · Talking FACS

• 0:02
  Welcome to talking facts.
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  What you need to know about family,
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  food,
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  finance and fitness hosted by the University of Kentucky.
• 0:10
  Family and Consumer sciences extension program.
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  Our educators share research knowledge with individuals,
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  families and communities to improve quality of life.
• 0:20
  Hello and welcome back to talking facts.
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  This is your host,
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  Dr jennifer Hunter,
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  assistant director for Family Consumer Sciences extension at the University of Kentucky Today,
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  I'm pleased to be joined by Natalie jones,
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  our physical activity coordinator who's going to share information with us on sparking up a conversation about firework safety,
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  Natalie,
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  Thank you so much for joining us today.
• 0:42
  Glad to be here.
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  I think that obviously this is a very Timely topic and one that people often are seeking more information about.
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  And so people love to celebrate four July with parades,
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  parties and fireworks often setting off fireworks all summer long.
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  I know that that's one of the complaints that my kiddos have at home is that because it'll keep them up at night,
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  just people continuing to set off their fireworks.
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  But fireworks are a lot of fun,
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  but we also know that they can be dangerous.
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  So let's start just by talking about some of the risks associated with fireworks.
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  Exactly.
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  So first it is extremely important to mention that a lot of neighborhoods do not allow shooting off fireworks.
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  It is against the law.
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  So it's really important that you check with your local ordinances to see if using fireworks are legal in your community.
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  However,
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  that does not stop people as we know.
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  So if you do plan to shoot off fireworks legally,
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  it is so,
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  so important to do it safely.
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  And so if you're going to just share some general tips about firework safety and why is fireworks safety important?
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  I think it is critical that people understand the potential for injury related to fireworks.
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  It's not just something fun and exciting to see.
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  There are a lot of risks involved.
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  The explosive power and heat associated with these products can cause serious injuries and even life threatening injuries if used improperly.
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  Last year,
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  approximately 15,000 Americans were injured from fireworks and majority of that occurred during the 4th of July.
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  Those injuries include permanent loss of eyesight,
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  loss of hearing,
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  a loss of a limb and often times this occurs because the firework is being used improperly.
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  And then again,
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  we always have those burns,
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  even severe burns that can happen on the face or hands,
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  that's really common as well.
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  So truly the only safe way to enjoy fireworks for the 4th of July is to attend a public event where the professionals are in control of the fireworks and your family can just sit back and enjoy the show.
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  I know that that's something that we always enjoy doing as a family and I thought it was kind of interesting and also,
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  I think speaks to the importance of this topic,
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  but just as I was sharing with some of my friends or family members or co workers about you joining us as a guest today to talk about firework safety.
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  I was really amazed at the number of people that said,
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  oh well you know one summer my son or one of my best friend's daughters had a firework accident or um when I was a kid,
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  this happened to me that firework injuries are really comin and so can you share with us a little bit more about what causes those injuries and maybe if there's things that we can do to help prevent them?
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  Right,
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  so home firework displays cost thousands of preventable injuries across the United States.
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  And most of those injuries come from improperly use,
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  right?
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  People not reading the instructions,
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  a short fuse just being a defective product.
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  A lot of times.
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  Obviously these are illegal fireworks that people are using at home.
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  If people relight fireworks or if you have an erratic flight of a firework um that could cause a fire.
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  And then one of the major major issues with safety and fireworks is when drinking is involved.
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  While people are like lighting fireworks,
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  I think in order to lessen someone's chance of being injured.
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  There are five tips that I would just have as a basic rule for families in any neighborhood.
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  For firework celebrations would be one.
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  Children should never be permitted to light the fireworks.
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  There should always be adult supervision.
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  If a child has a sparkler or anything like that to make sure that you read all fireworks instructions carefully.
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  Again,
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  68% of firework injuries are caused by misuse.
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  So really make sure that you know what you're trying to set off?
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  Three,
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  remember that alcohol and fireworks don't mix.
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  So make sure that you have a designated person who is going to set off those fireworks for where protective eyewear that is key.
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  Um,
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  and injury prevention And then five.
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  You really want to be careful when picking up firework debris.
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  A lot of people forget about this,
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  but that can still be really hot and dangerous to touch after they've been set off.
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  So you want to make sure that you wait around 20 minutes um when you've completed the firework show to pick up those pieces and then before you put those pieces into the trash can pour some water on them to reduce the chance of a fire being started.
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  I know that those are all tips that I can share at home.
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  It seems like every summer my husband,
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  I have a conversation about,
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  oh,
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  it's not really safe to hold the firework in our hand or you know,
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  we shouldn't light it while holding it.
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  Thing,
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  things such as that and I think,
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  you know,
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  obviously he's not purposely trying to get injured or to be unsafe with the fireworks.
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  Maybe it was just things that he did did when he was younger or he's just not adequately measuring the risks.
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  So all good tips to share at home.
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  So when setting off fireworks,
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  what are some additional ways that people can stay as safe as possible.
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  Again,
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  just like you mentioned,
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  you don't want to hold fireworks in your hand when you're setting them off.
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  Yes,
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  very key to injury prevention or have any part of your body over the firework wall.
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  You are lighting it again where I protection and this seems like common sense.
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  But accidents happen.
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  You don't want to carry fireworks in your pocket or firecrackers,
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  anything like that because sometimes that friction can set them off.
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  Um,
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  so that's something just to be aware of.
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  Again,
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  always keep fireworks pointed away from homes or from people that may seem like a joke,
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  but again,
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  accidents happen and it's not a safe situation and then you want to make sure that you don't point fireworks towards any type of brush or leaves and then any flammable liquids or substances such as gasoline should definitely be kept from a distance of where you're shooting off these fireworks because last year,
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  50,000 fires were caused by fireworks.
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  Exactly.
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  So that is,
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  it's not just injuries related to shooting them off.
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  But what can happen afterwards as well,
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  All good points.
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  Another thing that I think about with July four and fireworks is that I know they're very difficult on pets,
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  maybe,
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  especially dogs.
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  Do you have tips or information that you can share about what to do with our animals.
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  Yeah.
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  So definitely think about your pet,
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  a lot of issues can happen with them being spooked,
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  by the the noise of fireworks that they are outside or even inside or getting burned from the debris of the fireworks.
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  So the best thing to do for animals is to just keep them inside during those big celebrations because they do have sensitive ears and can be frightened.
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  So when you keep them indoors that really reduce the risk that they'll either get lost or that they'll be injured.
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  I know when I was a kid that our family dog,
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  he would go and hide in the bathtub every year when the neighborhood fireworks celebrations were going off,
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  Are there items that people can keep on hand just in case a firework related injury?
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  Yes.
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  So I would say the best thing to keep on hand is water,
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  for example,
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  with a burn,
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  right?
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  That most common type of injury.
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  The number one thing you can do is to cool it off and take the heat out of the energy so you have water.
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  Then another thing that's helpful with water is unexpected events if your grass starts to be on fire,
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  then you can again pour water on it as well as sparklers.
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  So these get extremely hot and they appear safe,
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  but they burn and can easily ignite clothing or cause severe burning.
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  So being able to drop those sparklers into a bucket of water immediately after it's gone really keeps that danger away and is incredibly important for young kids.
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  And I do,
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  I think that that's great for kiddos,
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  so that they know exactly where that sparkler is to go because I think especially for our small ones,
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  the sparkler might be one of the most popular type of fireworks.
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  So that just that they're instructed before they even start that as soon as your sparkler burns out or if you finish with it,
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  make certain that you put it down in the bucket of water.
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  Exactly.
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  So can you share with us um signs that an injury may be serious enough to seek additional medical attention or even to go to the er yes,
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  so anything with your eyes,
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  that is the most important thing a foreign body in the eye can cause major problems um that can last a lifetime.
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  So a significant injury or a foreign body into the eye,
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  you need to go and have a doctor look at it a second,
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  any break in the skin.
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  If your skin actually breaks,
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  then you need to make sure that you go and get seen by a doctor.
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  But minor burns can be treated at home.
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  So let's talk a little bit about those minor burns,
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  how would we go about treating them at home?
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  Right,
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  so most minor burns can be treated at home,
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  especially if they are about the size of a quarter.
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  Um the first thing you want to do is to cool it off.
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  So stop that burning process um immediately by running it under clean cool water for a few minutes and then you wanna really keep that skin intact.
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  So if a blister does form,
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  try not to pop it right?
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  That skin is a natural band aid and will help in the healing process.
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  So just leave it alone and it will dry up and come off on its own.
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  The things that are most concerning are those larger burns or burns over joints.
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  So if you burn your fingers right,
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  if you're holding on to something and it goes off in your hand,
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  that burn can obviously contract and limit some of your fingers mobility.
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  So you want to have that looked at at a doctor and then any burn or a break with open skin,
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  like firecracker again goes off in your hand,
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  there could be more damage than just that burn because of the force that that firecracker went off with.
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  So any open wound obviously again has a higher risk of infection.
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  So,
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  those need to be looked at great tips.
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  I also I do not want to pass over your mention about eye injuries and the seriousness of eye injuries.
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  So,
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  could you talk a little bit more about what to do if you do experience an eye injury?
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  Right?
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  So the number one thing that you want to do with an eye injury is to seek treatment for anything regarding your eyes.
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  They are so important.
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  So if anything is lodged in the I do not rub your eyes.
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  That's hard cause that's like your first instinct right to put your hands up on your face.
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  But try not to and try not to remove it.
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  If it is a large item again,
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  try to cover both eyes and seek medical attention immediately.
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  So again,
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  the safest thing that you can do if you're around fireworks setting them off is to wear safety goggles or glasses to protect your eyes.
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  And thinking about my,
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  my family at home especially,
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  we have one fairly young kiddo.
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  Are there some alternatives or other fun things that families can do to celebrate the fourth that do not include fireworks?
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  Right?
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  So you want to have kids involved in that celebration?
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  Right?
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  It's fun.
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  It's exciting time.
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  So glow sticks,
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  bubbles,
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  silly string noisemakers,
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  confetti poppers or even water balloons.
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  Um,
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  those are all fun and safe alternatives to fireworks or sparklers that they still feel like they're doing something that's exciting,
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  but it's safe as well.
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  And definitely all things that kiddos enjoy as well.
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  So,
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  Natalie again,
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  I want to thank you for joining us today and as we wrap up,
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  what would be just a few key points of advice that you would give to someone thinking about shooting off fireworks for fun.
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  First tip,
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  go to a professional show,
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  just leave it to the professionals again,
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  that's the safest approach.
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  But if you are going to enjoy fireworks,
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  just be prepared for anything.
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  Number one,
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  protect your eyes always have a bucket of sand and water handy and then make sure to leave the handling of fireworks to a designated adult and keep those fireworks away from Children Again,
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  holidays like the fourth of july our celebrations and fun.
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  But you want to make sure that everyone knows that there is safety issues and that they need to follow the rules to be safe.
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  So that that way it is an enjoyable celebration definitely.
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  And last night I was looking online to figure out when the process the show is going to be hosted in our local area,
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  the times best viewing spots.
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  And so just really encourage folks like you say,
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  spend time with the family,
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  enjoy the fourth and take in those professional shows that are,
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  that are available all throughout our local communities.
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  Exactly,
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  thank you again for joining us.
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  Natalie,
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  thank you,
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• 13:27
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