Physicians and other emergency department staff at Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital are urging people to to be cautious when using fireworks when celebrating  Fourth of July.

 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2006 children 14 years and younger sustained about 45 percent of injuries related to fireworks during the month surrounding the holiday.

While firecrackers were associated with the majority of fireworks-related injuries in 2006, sparklers account for one-third of the injuries to children less than 5 years of age.

The safest way to prevent fireworks-related injuries is to leave fireworks displays to trained professionals. Follow these tips to have a safe holiday:

        - Never allow children to handle, play with, or light fireworks, including sparklers. Only adults should light fireworks. Warn children to leave the area immediately if their friends are using fireworks unsupervised.

        - Keep the audience a safe distance away from the shooting site. Always light your fireworks outdoors in a clear open area away from buildings, vehicles, and shrubbery. Keep a bucket of water handy when lighting novelty fireworks

        - Light only one firework at a time, and never re-light a "dud" firework (wait 15 to 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water).

        - Do not consume any alcohol while lighting or handling fireworks.

         -Never aim or throw fireworks at another person.

        - Never try to re-ignite malfunctioning fireworks. Avoid firecrackers that appear to have been wet.

         -Only light fireworks on a smooth, flat surface away from homes, dry leaves and flammable materials. Never shoot them in metal or glass containers.

         -Dispose of fireworks properly by soaking them in water and then disposing of them in your trashcan.