ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - South Georgians are busy preparing to host barbecues, fireworks displays and other festivities this week. Being just a few days before Independence Day, WALB spoke with experts about how to make sure you stay safe and have fun when operating fireworks this summer season.

The Albany Fire Department is warning the community to practice caution when operating fireworks over the holiday weekend. Assistant Chief Glass said Dougherty County EMS sees a lot of firework related incidents, especially when those operating fireworks are not sober.

“Half of those injuries are extremities,” Glass said. “Hands, face — We see arms that have been burned from the fireworks. A lot of times, those injuries are because people were not following the manufacturer’s instructions."

Experts said that users should remember their ABC’s when lighting fireworks. Always Brace your Cakes. They recommend propping the firework cakes up with either bricks or rocks on all sides. This will prevent the cake from tipping over and starting a ground fire.

“Always brace your cake, because if you don’t, it will topple over, and that is dangerous,” Chelsea Steward with Jake’s Fireworks explained.

Steward also recommended having a garden hose or five-gallon bucket filled with water on standby should anything go wrong.

“Always douse your cakes after you use them with water,” she said. “Dispose of them in a tin garbage can — never a plastic garbage can.”

Some families opt to give their children sparklers thinking that is a safer alternative to fireworks. In reality, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says that sparklers burn at 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit and account for 29% of firework related injuries in children under the age of five.

“We cook bread at 350°, and water begins to boil at 200 degrees,” Glass said. “We wouldn’t give them a pot, and we wouldn’t let them cook bread, but we would let them hold a sparkler that’s over 1,200 degrees?”

Georgia State law says fireworks can be lit from 10 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. on July 3 and 4. If you plan to use fireworks outside of those dates, be sure to check your county’s noise ordinance laws first.

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