Stay Safe this 4th of July

6/30/2016 (Permalink)

Fourth of July weekend is once again upon us! Each year at SERVPRO of Burbank, we remember those who have both come before and those who are currently serving to protect our freedom. Like most people on this holiday weekend, we will be sharing it with family and friends and joining in on  the many traditions that has made our Independence Day a day to pull out all the stops!

Though there are many activities to partake in, one of the most popular things to do on the 4^th is to light off fireworks. And as long as handled properly, they can be a whole lot of fun.

According to the U.S. Consumer Fire Safety Administration, “230 people on average go to the emergency room every day with fireworks-related injuries in the month around the July 4th holiday.” Though this number may be startling to see, we at SERVPRO of Burbank want to see if we can help reduce this number for 2016. In an effort to promote injury and fire prevention, here are some recommended safety tips provided by the USCFSA –

• Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.

•  Avoid buying fireworks that are packaged in brown paper because this is often a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and that they could pose a danger to consumers.

• Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities. Parents don't realize that young children suffer injuries from sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees - hot enough to melt some metals.

• Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Back up to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.

• Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully.

• Never point or throw fireworks at another person.

• Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.

• Light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly.

• Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.

• After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding it to prevent a trash fire.

• Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.

And if you are also curious about how to prevent additional mishaps during this 4^th of July weekend of celebration, check out the Prevention Tips video our SERVPRO of Burbank office put together for your enjoyment!