Fireworks are a great way to celebrate the holiday, but they can be dangerous and start dangerous fires that damage property and generate the insurance claim process. Leave lighting them to the pros. Inexperience with fireworks is an easy way to get burned or cause property damage.
In the weeks around July 4, an average 200 people a day go to the emergency room with fireworks-related injuries, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. And 20,000 house fires are caused by fireworks per year, resulting in $32,000,000 in property damage.
If you do use home fireworks, the National Council on Fireworks Safety offers these safety tips:
- Don’t allow young children to handle or use fireworks; teens should always be closely supervised.
- Never use fireworks indoors.
- Always have water ready to douse a fire.
- Know your fireworks. Read the caution label before igniting.
- Obey local laws. If fireworks are not legal where you live, do not use them.
- Alcohol and fireworks never mix.
- Wear safety glasses whenever using fireworks.
- Never relight a “dud” firework. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
- Soak spent fireworks with water before placing them in an outdoor garbage can.
- Avoid using homemade fireworks or illegal explosives.
- Report illegal explosives, like M-80s, to the fire or police department.
When using sparklers:
- Always remain standing.
- Never hold a child in your arms.
- Never hold or light more than one sparkler at a time.
- Never throw sparklers.
- Sparkler wire and sticks remain hot long after the flame has gone out. Be sure to drop spent sparklers in a bucket of water.
- Teach children not to wave sparklers or run while holding them.
If fireworks related activity cause damage to your property contact a public insurance adjuster for an opinion. If you have questions regarding any property insurance claim related issues please call 800.321.4488 or contact us to submit a question to one of our public adjuster insurance claim experts.