Fire chief offers tips for happy and safe fireworks displays this Fourth of July

Hoosiers celebrating the American Fourth of July holiday tomorrow are allowed to perform their own backyard fireworks spectacle legally but local officials say "safety is the key" to great freedom-loving festivities.\nFrom commonsense fire safety to the protection of small children and pets, community members wishing to bang, boom, snap and pop their way to Fourth of July fun are encouraged to abide by simple safety tips and look out for those community members more vulnerable to loud noises.\n"With relaxed access more people are willing to get (fireworks), and with increased use comes increased risk," said Bloomington Fire Department Chief Jeff Barlow. "We ask community members to use their head and not only follow the law, but to use some commonsense."\nBarlow said the first item of firework safety business community members should consider is that they are dealing with an "ignition source." Similar to not playing with matches or leaving lit candles unattended, he said that any time you light a firework you are lighting a fuse, so extra precaution is necessary to prevent burns or unintended explosions.\nBarlow recommended community members wishing to perform their own backyard Fourth of July firework spectacle clear some space away from visitors and property preferably on concrete or dirt, make sure all combustibles are removed from the backyard, use a metal bucket filled with sand or dirt to launch bottle rockets, shoot the fireworks off into a wide area, discard used and still hot fireworks into a metal bucket and keep a hose or bucket of water nearby to prevent any small fires from spreading. He also recommended community members wet down the area where the fireworks were shot off before retiring for the night. \n"If something goes awry don't hesitate to call the fire department. We exist to serve the community," Barlow said. "Some people are embarrassed, but if there is any doubt call 911. We would much rather have you be safe than sorry. People have to remember these are small-scale explosives."\nBarlow said bottle rockets can lead to face injuries and body burns because they often fly in directions unintended by the user. He also said community members should make every effort not to shoot fireworks onto their neighbor's property as per Indiana law.\nBesides community member commonsense in terms of firework safety, young children and pets are often vulnerable to thunderous explosions and constant popping of backyard Fourth of July celebrations.\nHeather Reynolds, a licensed practical nurse from Bloomington Pediatrics, 719 W. First St., said parents should consider plugging their infant or young child's ear with soft-tipped plugs to spare them from professional or backyard Fourth of July bangs and booms. She also recommended that parents do not offer sparklers to children younger than five years old and that they monitor the firework use of children into their preteens so they do not risk eye injuries or other burns.\n"If a baby is startled and that is followed by crying, that can be a scared response to the loud noise," Reynolds said. "The parents can still enjoy the fireworks show if they go to the car, put the baby in the child seat and sit in the car with them."\nReynolds said parents should also keep all fireworks out of reach from their children. If children seem scared by the backyard Fourth of July merrymaking, she said they can offer their youngsters a safe view through inside windows.\n"Parents definitely need to consider the child's age and not let them have access until they can understand the safety issues behind the fireworks," Reynolds said. "A lot of what happens when mistakes occur is that children get too close to where fireworks are being let off and burns and misfires happen. A safe distance is extremely important when you are letting off fireworks, and use good judgment with children"