As Hall County residents stock up on Independence Day fireworks, Hall County Fire Rescue is reminding the public to practice proper safety protocols.
To avoid an emergency room visit, Hall County Fire Division Chief and Fire Marshal Michael Vieira said it is crucial to be aware of your surroundings. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's latest study, nationwide nine people died and 115,00 were injured in incidents involving fireworks.
“A lot of people will stand over the fireworks and lean over them while they're trying to ignite them, which is never a good idea,” Vieira said. “If one happens to go off, you're right over the explosion.”
He also advised against lighting multiple fireworks at once. Firework accidents typically result in finger, hand, face and leg injuries. Vieira said a Hall County resident even lost a few fingers last year in a firework accident.
“Use some common sense,” Vieira said. “A lot of the fireworks do have some directions on there. So of course, always read and follow the directions from the manufacturer.”
Many parents may also underestimate sparklers and the damage that they can cause.
“People see them as fairly innocent,” Vieira said. “They're lighting the sparklers or handing them off to their kids, and the kids are running around and writing their names in the air. But people don't realize that sparklers burn anywhere from 1200 to 2000 degrees.”
Georgians have had access to more types of fireworks since the Georgia General Assembly passed House Bill 110, which legalized the sale of consumer fireworks.
Jason Sillay, the CEO and owner of Xtreme Xplosives in Gainesville, sells consumer fireworks like launch-tube-style mortar fireworks. He said these fireworks give a similar effect to the fireworks that one may see in a professional show. But one should exercise caution while lighting this type of explosive.
“It's best to wear a pair of work gloves if you're going to be lighting a lot of the larger ones,” Sillay said. “Long grill lighters are usually better to use than trying to get down close to them.”
He also suggested securing the mortar’s launching tubes to a board or pallet to maintain its stability.
“If an animal runs past and knocks it over or the wind blows, it's not igniting and launching somewhere where you're not expecting it,” Sillay said. “And if you push some bricks up against the 500-gram cakes – they’re a box style product – that'll keep those from kicking over when they start rocking.”
He recommends staying back at least 50 to 100 feet from the explosives. Additionally, a person who plans to stay sober should be designated as the firework igniter.
After a sparkler or firework has finished burning, always discard all of its parts in a bucket of water.
“Make sure that they are completely saturated so that you don't have the potential of a rekindle in a trashcan if you've thrown them away,” Vieira said.
It is also a good idea for firework users to clean their gutters of leaves and debris prior to shooting fireworks. Embers could potentially ignite leaves and pose a fire hazard.
Ultimately, those who plan on shooting fireworks should be in an open space with access to water. But if families do not want to stress about firework safety, especially around young children, Vieira said there is another option for Fourth of July festivities.
“You can celebrate the holiday by watching a professional show,” Vieira said. “And that way you wouldn't have to worry about the risk of having your own fireworks at home and potential injuries."
