The Fourth of July can be a great time to celebrate the birth of our nation. This can also be one of the most dangerous holidays for household accidents. According to Entergynewsroom, (entergynewsroom.com), 31% of the estimated firework related injuries occur in children under 15. A reminder that sparklers can get up to 2,000 degrees, at that temperature they could possibly melt metals. If you are electing to shoot off fireworks check with your county and community to see what the rules and regulations are for your area. If fireworks are legal in your area, make sure you buy them off a reputable dealer. Fireworks in brown bags or without packaging can be a sign that fireworks were not professionally made. When lighting a firework be sure that the firework is pointed away from everyone, and that you back up a safe distance after lighting. After the firework is done burning, douse it in water before discarding. Averages of 18,500 fires annually are blamed on fireworks according to insurance.com. What if one of these fires happens to your house? Keep in mind that your home insurance policy does have an exclusion for illegal acts, however as long as everything is legal you should have some coverage. If you catch your own house on fire and coverage is available you would be subjected to your deductible. If you catch your neighbor’s house on fire, typically your liability on your homeowners insurance does not have a deductible. However you celebrate the Fourth of July keep it safe.
