A quick reminder before you celebrate America by almost setting your garage on fire… fireworks are not that complicated.
Find an open space. Not your driveway. Not next to your car. Definitely not under a tree you “think is probably fine.” Open space.
Light one firework at a time—this isn’t a speedrun—and then back up like you value your eyebrows.
Also, and I cannot believe this needs to be said every single year… if you’ve been drinking, maybe don’t handle small explosives. I know, wild concept.
And for the love of all things red, white, and unburned… make sure your kids know about proper fireworks safety. Stop just handing sparklers to kids without proper instruction, like they’re glow sticks. Those things hit about 2,000 degrees. That’s not “fun sparkle,” that’s “mini lightsaber.”
Keep water nearby. Not a vague idea of water. Actual water. Ready to go. Because things go wrong fast when you’re playing with fire.
And if all of this sounds like a lot to manage… great news. There are professionals who already know how to do it without ending up on the local news for the wrong reason. There are lots of great public fireworks displays scheduled for this weekend.
Celebrate the 4th. Just try not to become the cautionary tale everyone else talks about next year. And, please don't forget, quite possibly, the most important important safety tip when you're celebrating this Fourth of July: "PUT IT IN REVERSE, TERRY!"
If this is all too much to remember, click HERE!
Photo by Justin Wolff on Unsplash