How To Keep Children Safe with Sparklers

Sparklers are a mesmerizing part of an Independence Day celebration, and other special occasions. For a child, sparklers are the first firework that child is allowed to hold in their hands. Keeping children safe while using sparklers requires safety actions from you and your child.

Sparkler safety starts with you. Sparklers, like all fireworks must never be used without adult supervision. Without adult supervision, accidents do happen, and can turn a happy memory to one of tears and pain.

Set up a safe area for your child to light sparklers. Provide a bucket of water in which to immediately drop sparklers when the fire goes out. Because sparklers are manufactured with metal, the metal and sparkler material will remain hot and create a potential for burning your child. Make sure your child has adequate clothing, especially shoes to protect feet in the event a hot sparkler is dropped accidentally.

You must determine whether your young child can follow the instructions given. Setting rules with your child for the handling of sparklers is important to ensure safe handling. Start by explaining to your child a sparkler is pretty and fun, but can burn fingers, hands and other body parts.

Stress that running is not allowed nor is holding more than one lit sparkler each time. Emphasize that once the sparkler is in their hand to drop it in the bucket of water if it gets too hot or has finished. Stress to your child the importance of not handing a lit sparkler to another child.

Instruct your child on the proper position of holding a sparkler and how sparklers cannot be held close to eyes and other parts of the body. Show your child how to hold a sparkler at the bottom of the piece, explaining that the metal gets hotter the closer to the fire part of the sparkler. Have your child explain back and show the proper way to hold a sparkler until you have a comfortable feeling your child understands. This part of the safety instructions is important to make sure your child understands the importance of holding a sparkler safely.

If concerned about the heat of a sparkler, a good sparkler holder is a simple carrot. Cut the top flat on a carrot and push the metal stem into the base of the carrot. The carrot will diffuse the heat and keep the metal shaft from burning your child's fingers or hand. When the sparkler has finished, the child can drop the carrot and finished sparkler into the bucket. Using several carrots is a wise safety investment to protect small hands and fingers. Keeping your child safe when handling sparklers requires effort to ensure safe enjoyment for both of you.