Every year more people are injured trying to light fireworks on holidays than there is any other kind of burn. While many states and countries don’t permit fireworks, that doesn’t seem to stop those who want them from using them, and in some cases, from using them unsafely.

If you use fireworks of any kind, use them safely. You can prevent some terrible burns, as well as brush fires and house fires if you take some sensible precautions while you’re having your fun.

More often than not, injuries happen while lighting fireworks, but they do also cause fires and home burnings as well as injury.

Before you light up your fireworks read the instructions. It sounds so incredibly simple but the reality is that most people simply light up and wander away. There are some things that just don’t work like that.

Get a source of water close to where you will be lighting up the fireworks. If you don’t’ have a hose, keep a few water buckets close by.

When using small things like sparklers and other hand held fireworks extinguish them in one of the buckets rather than piling them together on a single place. They can and sometimes do stay lit and reignite other sticks and brush.

Light your fireworks on a flat surface, well away from brush or flammables.

For heaven sakes don’t store your fireworks in the garage or basement next to a source of heat. One of the most ridiculous things we’ve seen is a box of fireworks stored in the basement next to a hot water tank. The resultant bang could have been devastating.

Don’t let your children light their own fireworks. Common sense, right? Children light them all the time. Be in close proximity to your kids when they are using even something as simple as a sparkler and make sure yourself that they are extinguished.