Oshawa: The weekend marks Canada’s 152nd birthday and with that comes much to celebrate. Oshawa Fire Services would like to remind the community to exercise caution and be safe when using fireworks.
To minimize the risk of fire and burn injury, Oshawa Fire Services does not recommend family fireworks or informal neighbourhood displays. Instead, Oshawa Fire Services recommends attending the public firework display hosted by the City at Lakeview Park.
Keep the following safety tips in mind if discharging your own fireworks:
• Appoint a responsible person to be in charge. Only adults who are aware of the hazards and essential safety precautions should handle and discharge fireworks.
• Carefully read and follow the label directions on fireworks packaging.
• Always keep a water hose or pail of water close by when discharging fireworks.
• Discharge fireworks well away from combustible materials like buildings, trees and dry grass.
• Keep onlookers a safe distance away, upwind from the area where fireworks are discharged.
• Light only one firework at a time and only when they are located on the ground. Never try to light a firework in your hand or re-light dud fireworks. For dud fireworks, it is best to wait 30 minutes and soak them in a bucket of water. Dispose of them in a metal container.
• Discharge fireworks only if wind conditions do not create a safety hazard.
• Keep sparklers away from children. Sparklers burn extremely hot and can ignite clothing, cause blindness and result in severe burns. As the sparkler wire remains hot for some minutes after burnout, it should be immediately soaked in water to avoid injury.
• If someone is burned, run cool water over the wound for three to five minutes and if necessary seek medical attention.
Fireworks can be discharged between dusk and 11 pm on Canada Day, as well as/or on the day immediately preceding or following the statutory Canada Day.