Purdue Global Expert: Fireworks Safety

Jonathan Mead is a former fire chief and professor in the fire science department at Purdue Global. In this video, he explains how people can stay safe when handling fireworks during July 4th celebrations. Mead says that the number one rule when using fireworks is to be careful. He recommends having a bucket of water nearby to dunk fireworks in after they have gone off. If a firework fails to go off, people should not attempt to relight it, as that could lead to an instantaneous explosion. Mead says that there are around 12,000 incidents involving structure fires every year during July 4th, and around 10,400 incidents involving medical services. 38% of people hospitalized from fireworks suffer from finger and hand injuries. Fireworks should be set off away from structures and dry areas to prevent fires from occuring. People should check their state and local ordinances to make sure when and what kind of fireworks are allowed in their area.