OHIO — Fireworks are fun to watch, but they can be dangrous is handled imporoperly. 

You might have fond memories as a child playing with sparklers, but experts warn that only adults should be lighting off these fireworks. 

“Sparklers are on a metal stick. Even though we have those memories of waving them around and writing our names, those sticks can get up to 1,800 degrees,” said Jessi Dragoiu, vice president of Phantom Fireworks. 

She also warns that you shouldn’t be drinking alcohol if you’re setting off fireworks. 

“Alcohol and fireworks definitely do not mix," she said. "You want to make sure you have a sober adult who is in charge of igniting your fireworks."

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2023 eight people died from mishandling fireworks and 9,700 people went to the hospital because of fireworks related injuries. 

Teens aged 15-19 accounted for the highest amount of hospital visits

Children ages 5-9 were the second highest 

800 people were sent to the hospital for firecrackers and another 700 were hospitalized for sparklers. 

There are ways to prevent getting burned. One is to wear gloves when handling spent fireworks and immerse them in water. Wear protective eye gear. Use a long grill lighter or lighting sticks to light your fireworks. 

“You want to have some source of water nearby so whether it’s a bucket of water or a hose so you can spray down your fireworks,” Dragoiu said.

Remote igniters are also a good option to avoid getting burned. 

“This is a Bluetooth enabled firing device. So you put the clips in and attach them to the fuses of the fireworks and then you can launch all that from your phone," Dragoiu said. "You can be a very safe distance away, 300 feet or more." 

Fireworks were made legal for at-home used in Ohio in 2022, but some places like Cleveland still don’t allow fireworks. 

Fireworks can be set off in places that allow them on July 3-5.