Adult supervision is generally the rule of thumb for family-displayed fireworks. If mature children were to light any kind of fireworks Shawnee's Fire Marshal David Anderson recommends to always have an adult present.
Here are tips from www.fireworksafety.com:
• Use fireworks outdoors only
• Obey local laws. If fireworks are not legal where you live, do not use them
• Always have water handy (a hose or buckets of water)
• Only use fireworks as intended. Don't try to alter them or combine them
• Never re-light a "dud" firework (wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water)
• Use common sense when using fireworks. Spectators should keep a safe distance from the shooter. And the shooter should wear safety glasses
• Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. Have a "designated" shooter
• Only children over age 12 should be allowed to handle sparklers of any type.
• Do not ever use homemade fireworks or illegal explosives; they can kill you! Report illegal explosives to the fire or police department in your community
• The national council on fireworks safety invites you to celebrate our nation's heritage on the Fourth of July, but celebrate safely
Read about Shawnee's Police Department helping keep Shawnee safe in Kim Morava's story in "Related content."
For more videos, visit our Multimedia section.
