With America’s favorite summer holiday around the corner, families and friends are getting ready for their outdoor celebrations filled with food, pool fun, picnics, and most of all, fireworks. Although they are not always advised, fireworks are a part of Fourth of July tradition. However, what must be kept in mind throughout this exciting holiday is safety. By making sure you and your family and friends are taking the necessary precautions for creating a safe environment, you can guarantee that you will be having a great time this Independence Day.

Some of the most important things to keep in mind when setting off your fireworks:

• Never point them directly at a person, animal, house, or automobile
• After a firework is lit, make sure that you and the people around are a decent distance away
• Never try to “blow” on a firework when there is ember
• If there are children present, make sure an adult lights the explosive
• Never use fireworks that will shoot into the sky
• Be aware that fireworks remain hot after they are used

By making sure that everyone is safe, you ensure that all of your guests are focused on being surrounded by their loved ones and having a good time, rather than the possibility of an accident.

Don’t Forget: How You Dispose of Used Fireworks is Equally Important

One of the most dangerous things that people often forget while they are having fun entertaining others with fireworks is how these explosives are being disposed of. However, this can make or break the entire holiday. To ensure your loved ones and property are safe through the entire Fourth of July weekend, make sure you are taking the proper measures to dispose of used explosives.

Below is a guideline as to how you can make sure your weekend continues to go as planned:

1. After a lit firework has completely burnt out, wait for it to cool down
2. Remove the firework from the area where friends and family are gathered
3. Place the fireworks in a large trashcan filled with water
4. Soak the fireworks overnight
5. Place fireworks in a garbage bag and place them in a dry outdoor trash can
6. You can also take them to your local waste facility

Every year on Fourth of July weekend, fires occur due to the improper disposal of fireworks. This is because people forget that an ember, the most miniscule of all flames/sparks, can lead to larger damages. Oftentimes, people forget this and toss their used, faintly lit fireworks into trashcans, forgetting that not only can these continue to explode, they can create large fires if they come into contact with other flammable materials such as plastic, wood, or paper.

To avoid unnecessary accidents, make sure that you, your family, and your friends are taking the proper safety precautions this holiday weekend. The Daspit Law Firm wishes you and your loved ones a very merry Independence Day.