Jul 3, 2019 5 min read

Pennsylvanians across the state are flocking to firework stores in preparation for Thursday, but it’s important to remember safety precautions before lighting one off next to your house, family and pets.

Setting off fireworks within Washington city limits is prohibited, according to Washington police Chief Robert Wilson. There is a minimum fine of $100 for violators.

“It’s ordinance 173-1, which prohibits anyone without a permit to set off fireworks in the city,” Wilson said. “The houses are so close together we don’t want to risk something by accidentally lighting a house on fire.”

Fireworks will be set off on Wednesday night at Washington Park, 283 Dunn Ave., starting at dusk. Wilson said there will be an ambulance on site in case something were to go wrong.

For those who live outside city limits, Washington fire Chief Gerry Coleman advises residents to take precautions before setting anything off.

“You have to be diligent on where you’re setting them off,” Coleman said. “Be smart when you’re setting them off. Don’t point them at kids, other people or houses.”

Tony Avery, Director of the Emergency Department at Washington Hospital, said if someone gets burned or hurt you should immediately seek care.

“We usually don’t see a lot of severe injuries in this area, majority of the injuries are burns,” Avery said. “But that doesn’t mean they aren’t important to get treated. If you’re burned you should cool the area to prevent damage. Especially if it’s a burn on the face you should seek professional care right away.”

In October 2017, Pennsylvania passed a law that allows purchasing and use of fireworks up to 50 mg of explosive material, and residents no longer need a permit to purchase or use Class C consumer-grade fireworks. The law replaced the Fireworks Act of 1939, which allowed purchase of only ground-based fireworks.

But the law has changed again for this Fourth of July. You can’t buy airborne fireworks like bottle rockets and Roman candles at roadside tents. Those are only available at brick and mortar stores.

“The stuff (fireworks) that is sold in the tents in our state are legal, but don’t purchase anything from outside of the state because some of those things are still illegal here,” Coleman said.

In 2018, five people died and an estimated 9,100 injuries were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments, according to a National Fire Protection Association report using data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

For the past few years, 2012-17, firework injuries were on a steady increase, according to the NFPA report. In 2012, there were 8,700 injuries and by 2017, there were an estimated 12,900. That number dropped in 2018 to 9,100 injuries.

Many adults let their children use sparklers while celebrating, thinking it is a fun and safe alternative to regular fireworks. Yet, sparklers are a lot more dangerous than what people think.

Sparklers can burn at around 2,000 degrees, which can cause severe burns. According to the National Fire Protection Association, sparklers account for more than 25 percent of emergency room visits for firework injuries.

Here are some more tips from the National Council on Fireworks Safety:

• Never allow young children to handle fireworks
• Older children should use them only under close adult supervision
• Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol
• Anyone using fireworks or standing nearby should wear protective eyewear
• Never hold lighted fireworks in your hands
• Never light them indoors
• Only use them away from people, houses and flammable material
• Never point or throw fireworks at another person
• Only light one device at a time and maintain a safe distance after lighting
• Never ignite devices in a container
• Do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks
• Soak both used and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding
• Keep a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don’t go off or in case of fire
• Never use illegal fireworks

Pet safety tips:

• Don’t bring your pets to a fireworks display, even a small one.
• If fireworks are being used near your home, put your pet in a safe, interior room to avoid exposure to the sound.
• Make sure your pet has an identification tag, in case it runs off during a fireworks display.
• Never shoot fireworks of any kind near pets.