Fourth of July: Do's and Don'ts On Fireworks On Independence Day

Fireworks light up the sky over the Neva River and the Peter and Paul Fortress during the annual school leavers' night show in St. Petersburg, June 21, 2014. REUTERS

Independence Day, known as "Fourth of July," is commonly associated with parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games and family reunions. Also, fireworks give the celebration its "bang." But before lighting those sparkles, there are always safety precautions to remember.

Below are some do's and don'ts when using fireworks during the "Fourth of July."

Do's

1. According to ktxs, one of the most important things to remember is not to light fireworks within the city limits. There are certain laws that prohibit this and in case of a misdemeanor, the fireworks will be confiscated.

2. Lt. Mike Miller of the Abilene Fire Department said it's handy to have a fire extinguisher or water hose when popping fireworks.

3. Metrotimes suggested when using rocket launchers, a precaution would be to attach them to a sheet of plywood so they don't flip onto their sides when it shoots up the sky.

4. Take time to read safety guidelines from the National Council on Fireworks Safety or the American Pyrotechnics Association.

5. Use long neck butane lighters or fireplace match to ensure safe distance when lighting the fireworks.

6. Stay 140 feet away from aerial fireworks. Popping of fireworks in tight alleys demands every precaution possible.

7. Soak used fireworks in water before throwing them in the trash.

Don'ts

1. There are rules in certain states like in Abilene, Texas, prohibiting fireworks from being sold to individuals aged 16 and below and to those intoxicated.

2. Matt Smith, who owns a firework stand, said he also needs to follow rules to ensure safety of his buyers. "We can't set fireworks off 100 feet within this stand distance while it's open and we have to be so many feet off of the road to sell fireworks," he said.

3. Children should be prohibited from using or lighting fireworks. Some sparklers are safe when lighted. They should be kept away from the face, clothes and hair. Some sparklers can reach 1,800 °F (982 °C), hot enough to melt gold.

4. Don't just get away. Keep everybody at a distance. "Light and get away" is a foolish thought when lighting fireworks.

5. Don't assume any commercial product is always safe even if industry sources declare they're safer than ever.

6. Don't buy illegal fireworks, according to kidshealth.org. Legal fireworks are labeled with the manufacturer's name and directions, while illegal ones are unlabeled.

7. Don't let kids pick up used fireworks after an event. There's a possibility they could still ignite and explode.