Safety is the key when celebrating Independence Day

To celebrate their freedoms and liberties, many U.S. citizens spend the Fourth of July with sparklers, bottle rockets and fireworks galore.

Although it is a fun way to spend an evening with friends and family, local officials want to make sure everyone who chooses to do so stays safe.

Lt. Susan Wilson of the Conway Police Department said Friday the first thing Conway residents need to remember is that it is illegal to shoot fireworks within the city limits.

"The calls we get are usually not so much about injuries, but about fireworks in town into the night," Wilson said. "And for that you would get a citation and you would have to pay a fine."

Although the bigger fireworks seen at events and local displays may seem more dangerous, the smaller products sold in tents around Faulkner County can be dangerous, too unless they are used properly.

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Noel Braun, general manager for Jake's Fireworks, said one of the most common mistakes people make with fireworks is attempting to turn them into something they aren't supposed to be.

"One of the things that I always tell the kids is don't try to alter it because usually when there are serious accidents, it's when they try to make bigger fireworks," Braun said.

Braun added unless a resident is at least 16 or 17 years old, they should always be supervised by an adult when around fireworks and should never be given the opportunity to play with them.

According to Braun, the most commonly misused fireworks are bottle rockets. He said bottle rockets likely send more kids to the emergency room because they are not used for their intended purpose.

"A day doesn't go by when I'm in the building and people ask if they can hold certain products in their hand," Braun said. "I always tell them the only thing that I would hold in my hand is punk. I wouldn't hold any fireworks in my hand."

Before beginning fun with fireworks at home, Braun said it is important to find a safe location.

"You don't want to go to an area that is all dried out or near trees or weeds or homes," Braun said.

If the area is dry, Braun said people often mistakenly think they should purchase smaller fireworks to be safe.

"When things are dry, people are better off buying artillery shells and big fireworks, not the bottle rockets and the spinners," Braun said. "The bigger ones are safer because they will go much higher in the air and usually by the time they hit the ground, the fire, and the danger, is out."

Among fireworks displays today in Faulkner County are a 9:15 p.m. show at the Greenbrier Ballfield and a display hosted by Centennial Valley Country Club, beginning at dusk.

(Staff writer Jessica Bauer can be reached by e-mail at jessica.bauer@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1236. To comment on this and other stories in the Log Cabin, log on to www.thecabin.net. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)