Officials warn of safety hazards with fireworks

Boone County fire officials are warning people of the safety hazards that come with fireworks.

A few tips they want to remind consumers of is to never allow children to play with fireworks.

They also remind you not to ever re-light a firework. If you are setting them off yourself, make sure to put them in a bucket of water after they go off.

Officials said fireworks can burn burn for a long time after they are set off.

“Common mistakes that we see are people either too close to them or when they go off of they;re not setting them off appropriately or by the recommendations of the manufacturer. They’re either holding them or throwing them or setting them on the ground and people are too close, spectators are too close, so just follow those manufacturer’s instructions,” said Gale Blomenkamp with the Boone County Fire Protection District.

On average, 200 people go to the emergency room every day with fireworks-related injuries in the month around the July 4th holiday.