TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — With the Fourth of July upcoming, the Terre Haute Fire Department held a demonstration to make sure your holiday doesn’t end up in a hospital visit.
The demonstration took place at the THFD Training Facility.
Captain Nick Arnold showed the proper way to enjoy fireworks, sparklers, and mortars as well as the consequences that can come from not being safe.
Arnold first showed how to set off fireworks with the correct base and then what happens when that base isn’t sturdy.
Arnold said that on the Fourth of July, most accident that occur involve children.
“The Fourth of July holiday sends more than 10,000 people to the ER every year”, Arnold said. “That is mostly children for burns to the hands, face, and eyes.”
The Terre Haute Fire Department suggests keeping children away at all times and having safety precautions ready before you begin.
“When folks are enjoying their holiday they have a responsible adult, children do not handle fireworks, and just general safety like always have a bucket of water ready to discard your spent fireworks”, Arnold said.
Captain Arnold also suggests that adults using fireworks should never be under the influence of alcohol as many of their calls on the Fourth of July are alcohol related incidents.
