DUVAL COUNTY, Fla. – Fourth of July is right around the corner, and the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department emphasized the importance of prioritizing safety around fireworks.
JFRD said every year, there’s an uptick in firework-related accidents on this holiday.
One of the most important firework safety tips is to make sure you know how to safely dispose of them.
Eric Prosswimmer with JFRD said that’s one of the most common mistakes people make that cause fires.
“People tend to throw their fireworks in the garbage and we’re really thankful, they are cleaning up for themselves, but those are still super-hot and have ignition sources. The sad thing is usually we’ll go to multiple dumpster fires soon after fireworks are done,” Prosswimmer said.
Dumpster fires aren’t the only issue, house fires can also happen.
“They’re shooting fireworks off too close to the houses,” Prosswimmer said.
A little more than 9,000 injuries treated in emergency rooms nationwide happen around the Fourth of July.
Burns make up almost half of those injuries, according to data from the National Fire Protection Association.
That’s why before setting anything off, Prosswimmer said is important to follow these tips to stay safe.
“What we recommend is to create an area. Border it off, make sure that people can’t get too close as you’re lighting them. If you’re going to light them, don’t stand over them. If a fuse doesn’t go off, it’s a faulty fuse, don’t go in and try to relight it or if there’s a dud don’t walk up to it within a minute or so, thinking you’re going to light it or throw it away,” Prosswimmer said.
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Prosswimmer advised parents to keep a close eye on their children especially if they plan to allow them to play with sparklers.
Sparklers can be a safety hazard that can also lead to fires or severe burns if they’re not properly monitored or disposed of.