Be careful with your fireworks

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, June 24, 2003

With the Fourth of July rapidly nearing, parents need to be particularly vigilant about children and fireworks.

It is a new responsibility for most Minnesota parents and one that it is worth noting now before the sparkler season reaches full bloom.

It is in only the last year or two that Minnesotans have had legal access to sparklers, smoke bombs, snakes, fountains of sparks and the myriad other fascinating pyrotechnic devices that comprise the realm of Independency Day fun.

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Unlike families in some parts of the country, where these devices have long been legal, we are just getting into the swing of educating our children properly on fireworks.

And make no mistake about it, kids will be using fireworks. Even those whose parents don't supply them will have access through their friends. So now is the time to warn children about matches, lighters, staying well back from incendiaries and all the other tips that prevent the kind of burns and possible eye damage that fireworks might bring.

Used safely, fireworks can be a lot of fun. It's up to parents to make sure they are, indeed, used safely.