NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — With the Fourth of July holiday two days away, the New Orleans Fire Department is offering tips for residents to stay safe while enjoying fireworks and cooking.
NOFD officials said fireworks cause about three deaths and 40 civilian injuries each year, and there has been an increase in people using fireworks in a way that increases the chance of serious injury across the nation.
Fire officials said, “U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 9,100 people for firework related injuries” in 2018. Of the 9,100 people treated, about 36% were children under the age of 15.
According to the NOFD, consumer fireworks are illegal in Orleans Parish.
“Knowing the harm inflicted by fireworks each year, particularly on young people, NOFD is encouraging families to leave all fireworks to the professionals. Individuals and families should attend the public fireworks displays this 4th of July holiday. It is by far the safest, but also the legal way to enjoy fireworks,” said NOFD Superintendent Roman Nelson.
For those who like to grill and barbecue on the Fourth of July, NOFD officials said residents should take proper measures to stay safe, as “the United States Fire Administration’s National Fire Data Center estimates, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 8,900 home fires involving grills or other outdoor cooking apparatuses per year.”
To help residents stay safe while grilling and barbecuing, the NOFD offered the following tips and reminders:
- Make sure any outdoor cooking is done at least 10 feet away from a home or anything that is flammable.
- Check the connection between your grill’s propane tank and fuel line.
- Remove fat or grease build-up to keep your grill clean.
- Don’t leave your grill unattended.
- Don’t overfill your propane tank.
- Don’t wear loose-clothes while barbecuing.
- Don’t add lighter fluid to an already lit fire.
- Keep matches and lighters away from children.
- Dispose of hot coals by dousing them with water and stirring to make sure the fire has been put out.
- Don’t dispose of hot coals in plastic, paper or wooden containers.
- Don’t grill or barbecue in enclosed places.
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