The fourth of July is a time of celebration, so fire up that grill, crack open a cold one (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) and celebrate responsibly with friends and family. In this article, we're going to focus specifically on sparklers and the dangers they can pose when improperly handled. We hope when you decide to celebrate on the fourth of July that you'll do so with this information in mind.

Who doesn't love sparklers? They're little fireworks that you can hold in your hand. Sparklers may seem magical, but like all things magic, they can be dangerous if not used properly. Take a look around you, and you'll see everyone out in their driveway once night falls lighting sparklers and waving them around, making light streaks across the darkness. It's important to remember some safety considerations before lighting a sparkler.

Sparklers are hot, no, we mean they're HOT. Sparklers can burn at 2000 degrees (For reference, glass melts at 900 degrees and wood burns at 575 degrees), and if held too close to clothing or other flammable objects, they can catch fire. Try to eliminate the possibility of fire by minimizing the amount of loose clothing that is worn and keep sparklers away from flammable objects or materials.

Minimize the risk of burns, especially among younger children. Explain that sparklers can get extremely hot and to never touch the sparkler above the handle. Make sure to practice safety pre-cautions such as keeping the sparkler at arm's length, wearing shoes, and never bringing a sparkler near another person or pet. A better way to eliminate possible burns and fire risk is to opt for safer alternatives to sparklers such as glowsticks.

We hope you'll celebrate the fourth of July responsibly and take some of this information with you. Our goal is to keep our neighbors safe and prepared, please help us with this goal by sharing the knowledge you learned. Do you have article suggestions or other content you'd like to see? Send us a message on Facebook https://m.me/EastWhitelandFireCompany or send an email to kkeevill@eastwhitelandfire.org.