With the celebration of America’s independence quickly approaching, Crazy Bill’s Fireworks wants to remind celebrants to be safe. Last year’s Fourth of July weekend sent 35 people to emergency rooms throughout the state – 28 of those were under the age of 16 years old.

“To the kid who’s sitting in the emergency room, fireworks safety is pretty darned important,” said Carl Carter, spokesperson for Crazy Bill’s Fireworks.

According to the law, anyone under the age of 16 is unable to purchase any type of fireworks.

“We aren’t willing to wink at the law,” said Carter. “Pam Palmer, Crazy Bill’s CEO, helped to write the current law.”

“And I guarantee you that anyone who walks into one of our stores without showing that they’re over 16 years old isn’t going to leave with fireworks.”

“Pam’s told me that her own kids aren’t allowed to play with fireworks,” Carter added.

According to a press release issued by Crazy Bill’s and the Children’s Hospital of Alabama, more than half the fireworks-related injuries can be prevented with a pair of goggles.

“Until last summer, we really didn’t have any data on fireworks injuries in Alabama, “said Dr. Kathy Monroe of the Injury Free Coalition for Kid, located at Children’s Hospital.

“If you’re not old to drive, they you aren’t old enough to handle fireworks, period,” said Palmer. “It’s against the law to sell fireworks to anyone under 16 and we enforce that rigorously in our stores”

According to Carter, the most common item that people injure themselves on the most is the sparkler.

” One of the most common causes of injuries is the sparkler. People think it’s very safe, light it up hand it to a 4-year olds and those things burn at an incredibly high temperature,” said Carter “They also need to use the kind that do not have metal stick, get them with the wood handle. They are less likely to poke an eye out and are biodegradable. With the dry conditions, you don’t want to lay anything down in a grassy place. They also need to use the kind that do not have metal stick, get them with the wood handle. They are less likely to poke an eye out and are biodegradable. Don’t want to lay anything down in a grassy place.”

The Children’s Hospital of Alabama, which has partnered with Crazy Bill’s to raise the awareness of Firework injuries, is the 10th busiest pediatric medical center in the country. It ranks among the best employers to work for in the region and is affiliated with the University of Alabama-Birmingham, but is not a part of UAB.

“This partnership formed in 2004 is making our kids safer,” said Monroe. “Pam Palmer was instrumental in getting Alabama’s fireworks laws passed. No one has shown a greater concern for enforcing the laws and creating awareness.”

Crazy Bill’s and The Children’s Hospital offer these tips to keep people safe when it comes time to light the fuses:

– Obey city or town ordinances on the use of fireworks

– Always purchase high quality fireworks from reliable sources

– Follow the printed instructions carefully, and use common sense

– Never use fireworks in glass or metal containers

– Never point or throw fireworks at another person

– Use fireworks outdoors only in a clear area away from houses and buildings

– Light only one item at a time, then move back quickly once the fuse is ignited

– Keep all other fireworks at a safe distance from where they are being discharged

– Never experiment with homemade fireworks

– Make sure adults supervise the firing of all fireworks

– Always wear safety goggles when using fireworks