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Safety experts urge caution using sparklers with kids at 4th of July gatherings
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(CC) Dean Ayres, www.flickr.com/photos/deano/Children with developmental and cognitive delays, and those with poor impulse control can be especially vulnerable if not closely supervised. This is not the time to leave the supervision up to an older sibling or a caregiver who is unfamiliar with your child.
The CPSC reports that the most common causes of fireworks injuries are:
Being too close: Injuries may result from being too close to fireworks when they explode; for example, when someone leans over to look more closely at a firework that has been ignited, or when a misguided bottle rocket hits a nearby person
Lack of physical coordination: Younger children often lack the physical coordination to handle fireworks safely.
Curiosity: Children are often excited and curious around fireworks, which can increase their chances of being injured (for example, when they re-examine a firecracker dud that initially fails to ignite).
Experimentation: Homemade fireworks (for example, ones made of the powder from several firecrackers) can lead to dangerous and unpredictable explosions.
Sparklers accounted for one-third of the injuries to children less than 5 years of age.
An excellent video is available at the National Council on Fireworks Safety's web site (NCFS). It is one of the best produced because it demonstrates safe use of backyard fireworks at a typical neighborhood gathering, and doesn't attempt to frighten children nor make light of the issue with cartoonish characters.
The NCFS offers these specific safety rules for using sparklers:
· Children under the age of 12 should not use sparklers without very close adult supervision.
· Always remain standing while using sparklers.
· Never hold a child in your arms while using sparklers.
· Never hold, or light, more than one sparkler at a time.
· Sparklers and bare feet can be a painful combination. Always wear closed-toe shoes when using sparklers.
· Sparkler wire and stick remain hot long after the flame has gone out. Be sure to drop the spent sparklers directly in a bucket of water.
· Never hand a lighted sparkler to another person. Give them the unlit sparkler before you light it.
· Always stand at least 6 feet from another person while using sparklers.
· Never throw sparklers.
· Show children how to hold sparklers away from their body and at arm’s length.
· Teach children not to wave sparklers, especially wooden stick sparklers, or run while holding them.
Enjoy the holiday and be safe!
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safety ·
4th of July
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