ROME-FLOYD COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT: THE ONLY SAFE WAY TO ENJOY FIREWORKS THIS 4TH OF JULY IS TO CHECK OUT A PROFESSIONAL DISPLAY

Independence Day is one week away. Americans will inevitably celebrate the occasion with fireworks.

Shasta Farrer, a Life and Fire Safety Educator with the Rome-Floyd County Fire Department, attests that the safest way to enjoy fireworks is to view a public display conducted by professionals.

There will be a handful of opportunities to check out a professional display in Floyd County. Fireworks will conclude Cave Spring’s Liberty Day event on Saturday and will follow the Rome Braves’ home game on Monday evening. Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation’s Independence Day Celebration at Ridge Ferry Park will end with fireworks on Tuesday, July 4th.

Farrer adds that there’s really no safe way for untrained individuals to use fireworks.

Those who insist on conducting their own fireworks display should prioritize safety, says Farrer, who urges parents to refrain from allowing children to use fireworks. And avoid giving sparklers to your kids. Sparklers can burn as hot 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit – that is hotter than the 900 degrees needed to burn glass.

Glow sticks are a safe alternative to sparklers, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

For additional information related to fireworks safety, visit the NFPA website at www.nfpa.org.