Safety is top of mind for local fire departments and protection districts ahead of the Fourth of July holiday.
"Everybody's outside celebrating, enjoying the holiday, but with that comes more fires, more extremity-related injuries," said Nathan Manley, deputy chief of the Central Jackson County Fire Protection District in Missouri.
Manley suggests leaving firework shows to professionals, but that doesn't always happen.
"If you do end up shooting fireworks off, make sure you follow the instructions and the labels on the fireworks," he said. "Do not try to modify it in any way."
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Some other tips include:
- Let fireworks cool off before disposing of them in a trash can
- After it cools, placing them in a bucket of water can ensure they won't start a fire once placed in a trash can
- Stand 35 feet away from ground fireworks and 150 feet away from aerial fireworks
- Keep fireworks and sparklers away from young children
"Sparklers can burn up to 2,000 degrees," Manley said. "So that's hot enough to burn metal."
If someone is injured, Manley said to leave the injured area clean. He doesn't suggest wrapping the injury, and says to wait for first responders to render aid.
“I suggest knowing what your city or your county ordinance is," Manley said. "Everybody varies in this area.”
In places like Kansas City, Kansas, only fireworks permitted by the city ordinance can be used, and they may only be discharged between July 2 and July 4 from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
This story was originally published by Lily O'Shea Becker with the Scripps News Group.
