Fireworks have always been one of the most exciting parts of the American independence day. For most people, it is a day for fun and celebration. As fun as fireworks can be, there are many risks of injury involved or even death in extreme cases. Reports have stated that the most injuries resulting from fireworks occur on the 4th of July each year.

The first thing you need to check is whether your fireworks are classified as legal in your particular state. You need to be sure that the type of fireworks that you have are classified as "consumer" and do not require a license to possess or use.

Then next thing to remember is to have access to water nearby in case of any outbreaks of fires from stray sparks or burning bits of debris. You can take a bucket of water or even a fire extinguisher with you to quickly put out any remaining burning pieces. Just in case, you should also know your local fire brigade and police department phone numbers for any emergencies that may arise. According to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), each year there are an estimated 5-10 thousands injuries across the United States.

Probably the number one act of stupidity that someone can do is to play with and light up fireworks while heavily intoxicated with alcohol or other drugs. As with anything that requires a keen judgment, it should be done while as clear minded as possible. The last thing anybody would want to do is harm another person through a lack of judgment.

Mixing, creating your own or altering fireworks is also a bad idea. These devices can have very unpredictable burning behaviors and are considered illegal. Sometimes people like to make bigger explosions by increasing the size of their fireworks but these can end up exploding more than the user calculated and pose a health risk to spectators.

But don't be fooled by the smaller and much weaker fireworks available. Things such as sparklers are said to account for as many as 50% of all firework injuries because users tend to become careless due to their harmless appearance but these types of items can cause serious burns to the skin, hair and eyes.

Probably the most important thing to remember with fireworks is to keep them out of the reach of children and teenagers. Be sure to also keep children as safe distances when they are being lit as they tend to get very curious and want to get right up close to watch.

All safety measures aside, some people are known to put on some spectacular shows that are full of color and loud noise! For others, it's all about the smell of burning gunpowder and sulfur. It is a great tradition of the American people that is believed to have started as far back as 1777. So remember these important safety tips and may you all have a very happy and merry 4th of July holiday.