Be it a Fourth of July or a New Year’s Eve or a birthday celebration, fireworks are a great form of entertainment. Kids are especially fascinated with fireworks, and so am I, which means that I never really grew up! I just grew old.

Fireworks can be extremely dangerous even if they don’t go bang. Sparklers, for example, can cause severe burns, as can fountains, snakes or the many other non-explosive fireworks you may recall from your childhood. We’ve all heard or read about the unfortunate celebrant losing fingers or worse! Don’t be a statistic!

If you are planning to make fireworks part of your celebration, follow the safety tips listed below:

Do not allow young children to handle or ignite fireworks
Alcohol and fireworks do not mix, so no drinking, not even one
Follow local regulations with regard to type and use
Fireworks should be deployed on a hard surface, preferably concrete
Use in a clear, open area
Have water nearby to control fire
Beware of windy conditions that could carry sparks to combustibles
Never point a firework at another person
Use a “fireplace” type, extended butane lighter to ignite the fuses
Never use fireworks indoors
Be considerate of nearby wildlife, domestic pets and neighbors

This is by no means a comprehensive list, so, above all, use common sense and caution when handling and deploying your fireworks.

Your choice of fireworks to display is vast. After all, mankind has used fireworks for centuries, and through those many centuries, much innovation has taken place. Fireworks today are safer, louder, brighter, more colorful and fly higher than ever before.

In your choices, be guided, as we said earlier, by local regulations and the physical space available to you. City dwellers should avoid rockets, mortars, roman candles and other types of pyrotechnics that fly beyond your available space and therefore control. The best choices may include sparklers, small fountains, small firecrackers, cones, snakes; well, you get the idea.

If you are fortunate enough to have a large physical space, then bottle rockets, mortars, roman candles, reports, and other flying fireworks can be used safely. Do be aware of the surroundings. Dry grass and similar flammable hazards should be taken into account.

If you have the money and inclination, you can hire professional, licensed pyrotechnicians to create and deploy your display. This is the best choice for large events like weddings, anniversaries and the like. I recommend you choose a company that is ATF licensed and a member of Pyrotechnics Guild International. Also, you should request and check with their references.

Fireworks are great entertainment and sure to please your guests. Whether you choose to do this on your own or with the help of professionals, be sure you have checked local laws and regulations before proceeding. You don’t want the police to be your party crashers!

I also want to again emphasize the importance of safety. Fireworks are, after all, explosives; highly flammable compounds that must be respected at all times.

So, enjoy your celebration!

Author Bio: Ronald Fisackerly does a lot of article writing for Skylighter. Skylighter sells make smoke bomb and homemade smoke bombs as well as a variety of other items.

Category: Entertainment
Keywords: fireworks display, fourth of July,celebration, fireworks celebration