Independence Day happens Monday, and one of the funnest parts of the holiday is setting off fireworks.

But fireworks can be incredibly dangerous.

Citing the Consumer Product Safety Commission, USA Today reported last year that 15,600 people were hospitalized with injuries related to fireworks in 2020, and 66% of those injuries happened between June 21 and July 21. Eighteen people died.

The National Safety Council offers the following tips:

∫ Never allow young children to handle fireworks, and only allow older children to use them under close adult supervision

∫ Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol

∫ Wear protective eyewear

∫ Never hold lighted fireworks in your hands

∫ Never light fireworks indoors

∫ Only use them 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, and keep a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don’t go off or in case of fire

∫ Never use illegal fireworks

Enjoy the Fourth, folks, but do so safely.