Firework safety can help prevent serious injuries around 4th of July

WEST FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – In the weeks leading up to the fourth of July fireworks become a feature of many summer celebrations.

But as Dr. Mentor Ahmeti notes, fireworks can be dangerous if not used properly.

Ahmeti sees many firework related injuries every year, and he says they are often caused by people not taking the proper safety precautions.

Among the major causes are children using fireworks unsupervised, and people using fireworks while under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

“Don’t let kids unsupervised use fireworks. Use all the instructions and follow the instructions closely. And always have somebody who is designated who is not drinking to kind of be there to watch over the whole fireworks process. Also having some water close by is important.”

He adds that even sparklers can be dangerous for children to use unsupervised, as they can burn at temperatures up to 2000 degrees.