While most people’s July holiday usually includes hamburgers, hot dogs and beer, the highlight of any Independence Day celebration has got to be the fireworks, but we all know lighting up those sparklers can be very dangerous. In fact, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2015 fireworks caused more than 29,300 injuries among people of all ages, with total medical expenses coming in at more than $166-million.

For this reason, people should really leave the fireworks to the professionals, and just watch a display put on by their town or city, but if you must set off your own, there are some precautions you need to take to make sure you have a safe, and emergency room visit-free holiday.

Safety tips include:

• Check with your local police department to determine if, and what types of, fireworks are legal in your area.
• The quality of illegal fireworks can’t be guaranteed so NEVER purchase or use illegal fireworks
• Only adults should light fireworks
• Have water handy in case of a fire
• Wear safety eyewear when using fireworks
• Before discarding used fireworks, soak them in water to prevent unintentional fires
• Never try to relight a firework
• If you get injured using fireworks, seek immediate medical attention
• NEVER allow young children to play with or go near fireworks. And that includes sparklers, which can reach temperatures of more than 1,000 degrees
• Never handle fireworks if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol

Source: American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons