Detection and Measurement Systems

Fireworks Safety Tips

Summer is synonymous with barbecues, parades, and fireworks. While the season offers a lot of fun and celebrations, safety should always remain at the forefront of everyone’s minds. The National Safety Council (NSC) advises everyone to enjoy fireworks at public displays conducted by professionals, and not to use any fireworks at home. They may be legal in some areas — but they are not safe.

In 2017, eight people died and over 12,000 were injured badly enough to require medical treatment after fireworks-related incidents. Of these, 50% of the injuries were to children and young adults under age 20. Over two-thirds of injuries took place from June 16 to July 16. While the majority of these incidents were due to amateurs attempting to use professional-grade, homemade, or other illegal fireworks or explosives, an estimated 1,200 injuries were from less powerful devices like small firecrackers and sparklers.

Additionally, fireworks start an average of 18,500 fires each year, including 1,300 structure fires, 300 vehicle fires, and nearly 17,000 other fires.

If consumer fireworks are legal to buy where you live and you choose to use them, be sure to follow the following safety tips:

• Never allow young children to handle fireworks
• Older children should use them only under close adult supervision
• Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol
• Anyone using fireworks or standing nearby should wear protective eyewear
• Never hold lighted fireworks in your hands
• Never light fireworks indoors
• Only use fireworks away from people, houses, and flammable material
• Never point or throw fireworks at another person
• Only light one device at a time and maintain a safe distance after lighting
• Never ignite devices in a container
• Do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks
• Soak both spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding
• Keep a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don't go off or in case of fire
• Never use illegal fireworks

Additionally, sparklers can be a dangerous activity. Sparklers burn at about 2,000 degrees — hot enough to melt some metals. Sparklers can quickly ignite clothing, and children have received severe burns from being too close to a lit sparkler — and from touching and dropping sparklers on themselves. According to the National Fire Protection Association, sparklers alone account for more than 25% of emergency room visits for fireworks injuries. For children under 5 years of age, sparklers accounted for nearly half of the total estimated injuries. Consider using safer alternatives, such as glow sticks, confetti poppers, or colored streamers.

Credit: NSC

Swimming Safety

Swimming is a fun way to spend time in the summer and a skill that everyone should have. There is more to it than just knowing basic water skills — it’s about being water competent. Below are tips from the American Red Cross on how to swim safely.

• Provide close and constant attention to children you are supervising in or near water
• Swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards. Always swim with a buddy; do not allow anyone to swim alone
• Provide close and constant attention to children you are supervising, even when a lifeguard is present, no matter how well the child can swim or how shallow the water. Avoid distractions including cell phones
• Never leave a young child unattended near water and do not trust a child’s life to another child; teach children to always ask permission to go near water
• Designate a “water watcher” whenever in a group setting
• Take smart precautions and use layers of protection
• Stay within an arm's reach of any weak or inexperienced swimmer who is in the water
• Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets around water, but do not rely on life jackets alone
• Do not rely on the use of water wings, swim rings, inflatable toys or other items designed for water recreation to replace adult supervision
• If you have a pool, secure it with appropriate barriers to prevent unsupervised access to the water
• Many children who drown in home pools did so during non-swim times – when they weren’t expected to be in the water, including as the swimming activity was coming to an end and everyone was thought to be out of the water
• Ensure that everyone in the family learns to swim well and what to do in a water emergency
• If a child is missing, check the water first. Seconds count in preventing death or disability. Know how and when to call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number
• Have appropriate equipment, such as reaching or throwing equipment, a cell phone, life jackets, and a first aid kit

You can find more swimming tips, water safety courses, and swim classes near you here: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/water-safety/swim-safety.html

CPR & AED Awareness Week | June 1 – 7

CPR Awareness Week is a powerful reminder of how critical it is to be prepared for sudden cardiac emergencies in the workplace.

Cardiac arrest can happen without warning—and often outside of hospitals. Immediate CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival.

In a professional setting, being trained in CPR isn’t just a personal skill—it’s a shared responsibility. Fast, effective action can save the life of a colleague, client, or visitor.

This week, we encourage all teams to:

• Review CPR protocols in your workplace
• Enroll in or refresh CPR and AED training
• Discuss emergency response plans with your team
• Safety starts with preparedness. Let’s make sure we’re ready

Week 1 of National Safety Month – Continuous Improvement

The first week of National Safety Month, from June 1- 7 focuses on Continuous Improvement. How can we strive to improve safety in the workplace? Take the short quiz from NSC to learn how: https://www.nsc.org/workplace/national-safety-month/nsm-public-materials/continuous-improvement-quiz

In addition to being the first week of National Safety Month, it is also National CPR and AED Awareness Week. We encourage everyone to improve their CPR knowledge. When an emergency arises, knowing CPR and how to use an AED can save lives. Learn more about this training: https://www.nsc.org/safety-training/first-aid

Detection & Measurement Systems is focused on supplying detection, alarm and monitoring instrumentation for use in hazardous areas, as well as special hazards instrumentation for non-hazardous industrial applications. For help with any of these needs in your workplace, contact us at [email protected] or visit our website: https://www.detect-measure.com. We are a proud member of the Paradigm HSE family.

National Safety Month | June

June is National Safety Month, sponsored by the National Safety Council (NSC). Preventable injuries are a leading cause of death in the United States. Make a difference by joining NSC in celebrating National Safety Month, sponsored by EcoOnline.

The 2025 Weekly Safety Topics are:

• Week 1 (June 1-7): Continuous Improvement
• Week 2 (June 8-14): Employee Engagement
• Week 3 (June 15-21): Roadway Safety
• Week 4 (June 22-30): Wellbeing

To learn more about National Safety Month and these topics, as well as receive safety resources, visit: https://www.nsc.org/faforms/national-safety-month-materials

Detection & Measurement Systems is focused on supplying detection, alarm and monitoring instrumentation for use in hazardous areas, as well as special hazards instrumentation for non-hazardous industrial applications. We are a proud member of the Paradigm HSE family.