If the recent excitement of watching New Year’s Eve fireworks made you think it’s about time you bought and let off some yourself in 2023, it pays to understand that there is more to these products than meets the eye. 

They’re fun and create quite an effect, but they aren’t as easy to handle as you might think or as affordable, and they do come with some serious risks to keep in mind. 

If you’re brand new to using these products, read on for some of the most common errors people make about buying and using them that you can avoid. 

Error: Not Buying Quality Items from Trusted Sources

Firstly, you don’t want to buy roman candles, cakes, fountains, rockets, or other types of fireworks from just anybody. Sadly, too many people try to save a buck or test out new products without buying from reputable sources, wasting their funds and risking their safety. Protect yourself and those around you by investing in fireworks from trusted sellers who have been in the business for years and receive good reviews time after time. 

Error: Failing to Pay Attention to Laws About the Use of Fireworks 

Next, don’t make the error of ignoring local or state laws about who can and can’t use fireworks. If you don’t pay attention to the regulations and let off fireworks when you’re not supposed to or use the types that aren’t allowed, you could face jail time or heavy fines. 

Also, keep in mind that there are fire restriction signs in many areas because of safety considerations. If vegetation could easily catch fire if a spark from fireworks hit it, there’s sure to be a complete fire ban in place, especially in summer or dry seasons, to stop massive, out-of-control fires from occurring. 

Error: Setting Fireworks Off in Dangerous Areas 

Another error many people make regarding fireworks is setting them off in dangerous areas. As mentioned above, starting fires can be an issue, but so can other things. For example, don’t let off fireworks in places that could endanger people, animals, or property. Stay well away from homes, sheds, other structures, animal enclosures, and animal habitats. 

Before setting off fireworks, find an area with a sturdy, clear base made from sand, concrete, bare dirt, or stone, without any flammable materials (e.g., grass, trees, or other greenery) anywhere in the vicinity. Keep in mind how much space you need, too. Aerial fireworks require much more area when they’re let off than ground ones. Create a safety perimeter of at least 150 feet for aerial products, but also check the instructions on product packaging for specific information. 

Error: Attempting to Relight Fireworks

If you try to use some fireworks and they don’t work, don’t make the mistake of attempting to relight them. If products don’t work the first time, accept that an occasional dud occurs in this industry, and douse the firework in a bucket of water so it can’t harm anybody or thing. 

If you try to relight it just to try and get more bang for your buck, it could go off as you’re handling it, and you could cause yourself or those in your vicinity serious injury. 

Error: Failing to Create a Safety Plan

Don’t fail to create a safety plan for your firework nights. Many people make the mistake of not bothering with this, but it can come back to haunt them if problems arise on the night. You need to have equipment on hand in case things go wrong, and you and others should know what to do if something terrible occurs. 

For instance, it’s vital to have at least one or two buckets of water available to drop fireworks in and a fire extinguisher in case something catches alight that shouldn’t. Accidents occur, even if you’ve used fireworks before, so you must be adequately prepared to mitigate risks. 

Other common firework errors to be aware of include not keeping pets away and contained when you’re letting off products (they can get scared and run away or hurt themselves) and letting children light or play with fireworks. 

Don’t make the mistake of using fireworks while you’re drunk, drugged, or very sleepy, either, and avoid rushing the process, trying to light too many fireworks at once, or pointing them in unsuitable directions. 

If you avoid all these common errors, you will be able to have a better and safer night that will be remembered fondly by all those involved for a long time to come.