Maybe it is a national holiday, like New Year’s Eve or Independence Day. Maybe you are proposing to your partner, or maybe your favorite sports team made it to the final round of the championships. Whatever you are celebrating, it makes sense that you want to do it up big with a fun fireworks display.
Fireworks are fun for almost everyone; it is difficult to deny the excitement caused by a bright plume of light and a loud bang or fizz. However, fireworks are also quite disruptive. The sounds can cause pets and wild animals great distress, and the remnants of spent fireworks can pollute the surrounding environment.
Because you don’t want to be the bad neighbor on your block, you need to be careful to be conscientious with your fireworks display. Here’s how.
Go Somewhere Secluded for Your Celebration
Perhaps the best way to be conscientious with your fireworks is to go somewhere where your pyrotechnic fun won’t be especially disruptive. Of course, this is often easier said than done. You should keep in mind that the loud booms and bright lights can disrupt animals and people, so your secluded place ideally won’t be filled with wildlife. Similarly, you don’t want a stray spark to start a wildfire or any uncollected debris to put a delicate natural environment out of balance. Considering these restrictions, it might be easier to stay where you are and take the following precautions when you launch your display.
Tell Your Neighbors About Your Intentions
Whenever you do anything in your neighborhood that could be disruptive, it is good to notify your neighbors. This includes things like loud, late parties, or significant home renovations, and it definitely includes launching fireworks. Fireworks can cause animals to behave erratically, and they can trigger stress reactions in some people with PTSD. If you don’t want to relocate your fireworks celebration to a more secluded area, the least you can do is let your neighbors know when your fireworks will be going off. More likely than not, they will appreciate your message and ask to join the fun.
Know the Local Fireworks Laws
Fireworks are legal in most places, but it is important to check your local laws just to be sure. Some municipalities ban certain types of fireworks, and there are a select few places where fireworks are prohibited outright. Because you don’t want your high-quality mortar fireworks to go to waste, you should look into what fireworks are allowed in your area. If the internet doesn’t yield any clues, you can call your local fire or police departments for more information.
Choose Less Disruptive Fireworks
Not all fireworks are equally disruptive. Pyrotechnics that make loud noises like bangs, pops, buzzes, and whines tend to create more trouble. Likewise, fireworks that shoot high into the sky can cause more problems. If you are just looking for a little fun and aren’t trying to impress, you can invest in fireworks like sparklers and snakes, creating oohs and ahhs — especially amongst the younger set — without putting you in danger of being a bad neighbor.
Use Fireworks Safely
Perhaps the least conscientious thing you can do with fireworks is harming someone or something with them. Fireworks are fun, but they are also dangerous. You should take pains to keep everyone as safe as possible, with the right behaviors and equipment. This includes:
- Supervising young children around fireworks and ensuring that children never ignite or play with fireworks.
- Remaining a safe distance from fireworks and never allowing any part of anyone’s body to come into contact with an ignited firework
- Maintaining a bucket of water or a garden hose nearby to douse fireworks fully after use and extinguish any accidental ignitions of your environment.
Pick up All Fireworks Trash
Fireworks can create all kinds of debris, like wrappers and ash, that get left behind after the explosions finish and the smoke clears. Unfortunately, much of that debris contains harsh and toxic chemicals, which neither kids nor animals should come into contact with. It shouldn’t take more than a few minutes to collect and dispose of the trash related to your fireworks display or to wash away the ash from pyrotechnics like snakes, and doing so will keep your neighborhood a clean and safe place.
Featured Image by Ralf Vetterle from Pixabay
