Photo Credit: Getty ImagesMy kids are psyched for our town's Fourth of July festivities. While be watching fireworks from afar but I know many families will be creating their own mini-pyrotechnic displays in front of their homes with legal fireworks.
So I'm going to be the helicopter parent for parents in this post, okay? Because according to Kidshealth.org, more than 10,000 people were treated in emergency rooms for fireworks-related injuries in 2005. Nearly 50 percent of those injured each year are kids under age 15.
Some easy tips to keep your July 4th celebrations fun and safe:
- Make sure fireworks are legal in your town. Seriously, if it's not legal...and especially if your kid's old enough to know it's not legal...don't use them.
- Always have water nearby (a bucket or hose) for emergencies.
- Don't let kids light fireworks. Just don't.
- Little kids love to hold sparklers and you may be inclined to let them because they look relatively safe. Think again. Those sparklers can reach a temperature of more than 1000 degrees Fahrenheit. Give young children (the under-12 crowd) glow sticks...they're just as fun and won't light their hair on fire or cause serious burns.
- You should also make sure kids are a safe distance away from any fireworks being lit.
- Teach your kids not to pick up fireworks on the ground. They could still be hot or "duds." Tell them to get an adult to check it out.
- Remind children not to play with matches.
- Make it even easier -- just go check out a professional fireworks show near you. No mess, no clean up, no worries.
Easy enough, right? And I didn't even have to hover too long. If you need more information, check out the National Council on Fireworks Safety.
Do you light fireworks for (and with) your kids?
