Lighting up your own fireworks is always a fun way to celebrate the Victoria Day weekend, but it’s important to remember there can be perils to the pyrotechnics.
About 15 per cent of firework-related injuries in Canada occur on Victoria Day, reports CHIRPP, the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP).
Most of those occur when the firework explodes in a user’s hands, causing nasty hand and face injuries, but 20 per cent of these incidents also leave spectators nearby injured, including kids.
So here are a few tips from the Canadian Safety Council and Natural Resources Canada for holding a late-night light show safely.
(Flickr/ Mike Mozart)
1. Stick to the legal explosives
It should be obvious, but it’s never a good idea to buy fireworks from sketchy, roadside vendors. For one, they may be selling fireworks that are illegal in Canada including cherry bombs, some firecrackers, wheels and snaps.
Instead, head to a legitimate fireworks store and remember that buyers must be at least 18 years old. That’s not a bad rule, considering that CHIRPP has found more than 40 per cent of firework injuries occur to 10-14 year olds.
Also, many cities and municipalities don’t allow firework displays without a permit, although most drop those rules for Victoria Day and Canada Day. To be sure you’re within the rules, check with your municipality.
2. Store them safely
Before the big show, make sure you store your fireworks securely, far from curious children and of course, at a safe distance from anything flammable.
A family plays with sparklers on Victoria Day on a Toronto beach on Monday, May 20, 2013. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young)
3. Choose a good spot to light them
Fireworks can be unpredictable and shoot in the wrong direction so it’s a good idea to keep a safe perimeter around your launch site, as far away from houses as you can get and with your spectators sitting far back. Fields and beaches are usually good bets.
Ensure that the wind is blowing away from the spectators to reduce the chances a spark or the firework itself will land on a spectator. And if it’s a really windy evening, it might be best to simply cancel or postpone the show.
(flickr/ David Ensor)
4. Stay protected
Wear protective eyewear and gloves when handling fireworks, and tie your hair back if it’s long. Light the firework at arm’s length, place it into a sand-filled bucket and then stand far back.
Never attempt to re-light a “dud” firework. Instead, wait at least 30 minutes before approaching the defective firework, the Canadian Safety Council.
Sean Nettleton and his son Sean Jr. play with a sparkler while they celebrate Fourth of July, 2015 in Saginaw. (Andrew Whitaker/The Saginaw News)
5. Be prepared for an accident
The warnings on each firework are there for a reason. Read all the labels long before the show, to plan the order in which you will light them, and ensure you understand how each one works.
Have a bucket of sand nearby to extinguish the fireworks, as well as a supply of water and fire extinguisher on hand in case of a fire.
And remember that sparklers are not "child safe"; they can burn hot and can easily ignite clothing if suddenly dropped
If you have an accident involving fireworks, report it to the Explosives Regulatory Division using an Incident Report Form.
