Know rules for using fireworks to avoid injury and fires

Most everyone has pleasant memories of July Fourth fireworks, but all too many can recall emergency-room visits on the same day.

Here are some fireworks safety reminders and facts, courtesy of Dr. Dana Ramirez, emergency physician at Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters in Norfolk:

Facts: Nationally, there are about 10,000 fireworks injuries every year, such as burns, scars, eye injuries and disfigurement. One-third of eye injuries caused by fireworks lead to blindness.

The law: In Virginia, the only fireworks permitted are sparklers, fountains, pharaoh’s serpents, pinwheels and whirligigs. The commonwealth has banned all firecrackers, skyrockets, torpedoes and other fireworks that explode, travel laterally, rise into the air or fire projectiles.

Most local cities take that a step further by banning all fireworks, even sparklers. That doesn’t stop everyone, so here are some safety guidelines:

Never allow young children to play with fireworks. Sparklers can reach the temperature of a match at the tip and ignite hair or clothing. They also can throw off hot sparks that can lodge in the hair, the eyes or the clothes.

Sparkler injuries account for more than 10 percent of all fireworks injuries every year.

Children between 10 and 14 years old statistically are at highest risk for injury from fireworks because they may consider fireworks toys and fail to appreciate the danger they pose.

Never attempt to relight a firework that failed to ignite. In some cases, they may come to life as you approach them; in other cases, they have such a short fuse they may go off immediately if you attempt to relight them. Douse it with water before throwing it away.

You should never light fireworks near homes or in places with dry leaves or grass or any other flammable material. Fireworks can not only harm your children, they can burn down your house.

Before you light any firework, make sure all observers are aware that you are about to light it and are watching from a safe distance.

Always keep a bucket of water that you can use to douse fireworks that fail to go off or in case of fire.

On July 4, the 911 center is often overloaded with people calling in to make complaints about fireworks. Use the number only if it’s a true emergency.

Elizabeth Simpson, (757) 446-2635, elizabeth.simpson@pilotonline.com