Fireworks and Family Safety
On the 4th of July around 9:30 P.M. there is an annual fireworks display held in downtown Fernandina Beach.
Fireworks injury
This page has information about what to do if someone is injured by a firework.
Fireworks safety
Sparklers
Sparklers can be very dangerous and should never be given to children under five.
Never hold and light more than one sparkler at a time. It can cause a super ignition with extremely hot embers that can cause serious burns.
Supervise children five years and older and make sure they hold them at arms length.
Dispose of used sparklers in a bucket of sand or water.
Dud fireworks
Never inspect or relight a dud firework as it may still go off and cause serious injury.
Keep away from a firework that didn’t ignite for 15 minutes, then pour water on it.
Burn injury from fireworks
You should apply the three Cs when treating a burn:
- cool it – under running water for 20 minutes
- cover it- with cling wrap
- call 911 – for an emergency response.
Eye injury from fireworks
If someone gets small, loose specks in their eye, do all of the following:
- do not rub the eye
- wash the eye with a gentle stream of saline or clean water, or let tears wash the speck out
- if the object is on the white of the eye remove it using the corner of a clean, moist cloth, cotton bud or tissue paper spear
- do not try to remove an object from the coloured part of the eye – wash it with saline or clean water and get medical help if this doesn’t work.
If there is a cut or puncture to the eye or eyelids or objects penetrating the eye, do all of the following:
- do not wash out the eye with water or any other liquid
- do not try and remove an object that is stuck
- do not give the person anything to eat or drink
- get urgent medical help
Fireworks - lots to excitement and some real dangers!
People who use fireworks carelessly, or without knowing what they’re doing can be killed or maimed. They can also kill or maim others.
Fireworks can burn down houses, damage entertainment venues such as nightclubs, frighten children and adults, cause brush fires, and terrify pets and wildlife.
Noise from fireworks can cause distress, especially as fireworks can sound like gunfire. The noise can also cause tinnitus and deafness, or aggravate a nervous condition.
People who suffer from asthma can experience discomfort and epileptics can experience seizures following fireworks displays.
When frightened by fireworks, horses and dogs have been known to injure themselves and others by running away, potentially causing accidents and damage to property.
For these reasons, animal owners who have been advised to keep their dogs, cats and other pets inside the house, so that the animals are safe and can’t run away. Horse owners should take steps to protect their animals.
A calming shirt can help relieve a dog’s anxiety relating to fireworks, thunderstorms and gunshots. To find out more about these products, search the web for ‘dog calming shirt’ or ‘dog anxiety treatment’.
