The fun of bombs bursting in air still needs a few hours before sunset and the shows in backyards can take place with the full splendor of displays of any size, but there’s a few items people need to consider before they launch their mortars and roman candles into the air.

First things first: make sure to have water on hand in at least one bucket to douse any minor fires or to ensure that duds or malfunctioning fireworks can’t blow up and set anything ablaze. Everyone can agree that getting firefighters out to the house is a bad idea.

Additionally, it is a good time to remind everyone that safe handling of any kind of explosives and alcohol never mix. Please, no drinking and fireworks use.

Here’s some more from the National Safety Council about how to handle fireworks during this holiday weekend:

• NEVER ALLOW YOUNG CHILDREN TO HANDLE FIREWORKS. Older children can handle them with adult supervision, but if I were you, I’d probably stick to sparklers and letting kids light the fuse for bottle rockets launched from an empty coke can. Safest way to deal with them.
• Wear protective eyewear when standing close to fireworks. Last thing you want to lose is eyesight because a roman candle went off in the tube while lighting the fuse.
• NEVER POINT FIREWORKS AT ANOTHER PERSON.
• NO FIREWORKS INDOORS. That should be good common sense.
• NEVER HOLD FIREWORKS IN YOUR HANDS. Another obvious one, but worth mentioning again. THINGS EXPLODE. HANDS ARE USEFUL.
• Keep a bucket of water handy to extinguish fireworks that are duds. Soak spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding.
• Use fireworks away from houses, vehicles and flammable materials (like near tall grass that is dry.)

Additionally from the National Safety Council, this quoted specifically from their page on fireworks safety about sparklers:

“Sparklers burn at about 2,000 degrees – hot enough to melt some metals. Sparklers can quickly ignite clothing, and children have received severe burns from dropping sparklers on their feet. According to the National Fire Protection Association, sparklers alone account for more than 25% of emergency room visits for fireworks injuries. For children under 5 years of age, sparklers accounted for nearly half of the total estimated injuries. “