How to celebrate 4th of July safely in Colorado

Denver — (Dara Zeier) The 4th of July weekend has arrived and people across the state of Colorado will be celebrating the holiday with fireworks. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission says that 10,200 people were treated in emergency rooms in 2022 for fireworks injuries.

According to the U.S. CPSC, fireworks-related injuries increased by 25% from 2006 to 2021.

“It’s imperative that consumers know the risks involved in using fireworks, so injuries and tragedies can be prevented. The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to watch the professional displays,” said CPSC Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric.

Tips to avoid injuries from fireworks

Here are some tips from the U.S. CPSC to help you celebrate the 4th of July holiday safely:

• Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
• Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy, in case of fire or other mishap.
• Light fireworks one at a time, then move quickly away from the fireworks device.
• Never try to relight or handle malfunctioning fireworks. Soak them with water and throw them away.
• Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Move to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.
• Never point or throw fireworks at anyone.
• After fireworks have stopped burning, to prevent a trash fire, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding the device.
• Make sure fireworks are legal where you live.
• Never use fireworks while impaired by alcohol or drugs.

Increased DUI enforcement

The Colorado Department of Transportation, along with the Colorado State Patrol and other local law enforcement agencies will start increased DUI enforcement this weekend.

CDOT said Coloradans can be prepared with a sober ride home by:

• Using ride or transit services
• Calling a sober friend
• Designating a sober driver
• Using ride-hailing services to your destination and leaving the car at home

To save lives this holiday weekend, CDOT, Governors Highway Safety Association and Uber said they are providing Uber ride credits as a safe and sober alternative to impaired driving.

• $10 credits available statewide while supplies last
• You can redeem the credit by using code “SAFE4JULY” in the Uber app from June 29 at 5 p.m. through July 5 at 11:59 p.m.

To apply the credit directly to the Uber app from a mobile device, click here.

If you’ve been injured by a drunk driver, contact our experienced and compassionate drunk driving attorneys for a free and confidential consultation.