WYNNE — The Independence day holiday is a time of celebration but can also be dangerous if the proper precautions are not taken.
Aaron Mears, fire prevention coordinator for the Wynne Fire Department, is offering safety tips for residents planning to shoot fireworks this weekend.
Mears said fireworks should be kept away from homes, vehicles and dry grass.
“You want to make sure you have a water source ready, be it a garden hose, a bucket of water, fairly close, just in case it does get out of hand or if something malfunctions to make sure it doesn’t spread,” he said. “Make sure you never allow your young children to handle fireworks. You want to light one firework at a time and move away quickly. Move with a purpose. Light one and run away.
“Never try to relight a firework that doesn’t go off,” Mears added. “Make sure you give it a safe amount of time. I would say five to 10 minutes. It could be even longer than that. You can take your water hose that’s right nearby and start spraying it from a distance. That would be a little bit of a safer bet.”
Mears said one of the most common calls the department receives around the Fourth of July involves dumpster fires caused by improperly discarded fireworks.
“One call that we get every year – dumpster fires,” he said. “People are taking these used fireworks and throwing them in the dumpster and walking away and the dumpster catches on fire. Make sure you fully soak the fireworks before you throw them away. Soak them in a bucket. Saturate them as heavy as you possibly can with that fire hose. If a fire starts, obviously call 911 and never, ever, ever attempt to make homemade fireworks or modify any store-bought fireworks.”
Mears also offered advice for treating minor burns and knowing when it’s time to call 911.
“A mild burn, just run it under water for like 20 minutes. Don’t use ice because ice can actually damage your skin. Just run it under cold water for 20 minutes,” he said. “Any watches, rings, tight clothing, if you get burned, take that stuff off immediately because your hands are going to swell from the burns. That way it doesn’t cut off circulation or get stuck on your hand or anything like that.
“You want to cover the burn with a clean bandage or a plastic wrap that is designed for burns. You don’t want to put ointment and stuff like that over it,” Mears added. “If it’s something super small, you can put burn cream over it. You really just want to keep cool running water over it or take an over-the-counter pain reliever if needed. But, if it’s severe, obviously you want to keep the area clean, wrap it with a sterile cloth and call 911.”
Mears also encouraged residents to report any signs of fire immediately.
