Handling Fireworks This Weekend? Here Are Some Safety Tips

There's one surefire way to avoid becoming one of the thousands of people who are injured by fireworks every Fourth of July: Park yourself on a lawn chair or blanket, and leave the pyrotechnics to the professionals who put on the show in your community.

But - let's face it - for many people, shooting off fireworks in the backyard, a park or nearby open field is as much of an Independence Day ritual as cooking up hot dogs on the grill.

So, if you're one of those "do-it-yourselfers" intent on lighting your own sparklers, smoke bombs, M80s or Black Cats, here are a few safety tips from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services:

• Always read and follow all warnings and label instructions.
• Always have an adult present, and never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks.
• The adult igniting the fireworks should always wear eye protection and never have any part of the body over the firework.
• Buy from reliable sellers.
• Use fireworks only outdoors.
• Be sure other people are out of range before lighting fireworks.
• Always have water handy (a garden hose and a bucket).
• Only light fireworks on a smooth, flat surface away from the house, dry leaves, and flammable materials.
• Light only one firework at a time.
• Never throw or point fireworks at other people or animals. Keep your pets indoors to reduce the risk that they will run loose and get injured. Animals have very sensitive ears and can be stressed or frightened due to the igniting of fireworks.
• Never shoot fireworks in metal or glass containers.
• Never relight a "dud" firework (wait 15 to 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water).
• Never experiment or make your own fireworks. 
• Dispose of fireworks properly by soaking them in water and then disposing of them in your trashcan.
• If necessary, store fireworks in a cool, dry place.
• Never carry fireworks in your pocket.
• Stay away from illegal explosives.

In 2009, the latest year for which figures are available, there were 8,800 people treated in U.S. emergency rooms for injuries related to fireworks, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

And if you think fireworks like sparklers, "snakes" and other novelties are safe, think again. They're responsible for about one-third of all injuries.

Fireworks also were the cause of 18,000 fires that caused $38 million in damage in 2009, the association said. That includes 700 house fires.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice also is issuing a reminder about which fireworks are legal in Wisconsin without a permit and which ones require permits.

You don't need a permit for sparklers less than 3 feet long; stationary cones and fountains; toy snakes; smoke bombs; caps; noisemakers; confetti poppers with less than one-quarter grain of explosive mixture; and novelty devices that spin or move on the ground.

There is also no age restriction on sale, possession or use of these devices and, in fact, the state doesn't even consider those items as fireworks.

For all other fireworks, such as firecrackers, bottle rockets, Roman candles and mortars, anyone purchasing or possessing them is required to have a permit issued by the local municipality. And permits cannot be issued to minors.