AMERICA 250/FOURTH OF JULY

Happy 250th Birthday America

An important safety warning on this holiday

Photo by amin tn on Unsplash

As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday, I am reminded about a traumatic experience I had with fireworks on the holiday. My siblings and I grew up around fireworks; we were all issued one pack of small firecrackers called “ladyfingers” each holiday to blow up as we pleased. Some of us blew them up all at once, some of us took our time, doing one at time. One day, I lit one with a short wick and it blew up as I tossed it, burning my finger and breaking my fingernail.

Yes, we were maybe too young to have access to explosives, but Dad gave us safety talks every year. We knew how to set them off relatively safely. We knew to never toss them at anyone and made sure the throw zone was clear. Never hold them in your hand. Never toss them by the pets. Light them and run. And clean up the mess when we were done.

I was only allowed to use ladyfingers and snaps. My older siblings could do regular firecrackers, M-80’s and the assortment of firework fountains we bought each year. With nine kids running around, we were fortunate we all walked out of childhood with all limbs attached.

On this particular day, however, I nearly blinded myself. I was about eight years old and we were celebrating the 4th of July at my aunt and uncle’s farm in the-middle-of-nowhere Ohio.

There was a cone-shaped fountain we had lit, but it didn’t go off. The rule was to toss it, never try to relight it. But I was determined to see this one work.

We were’t allowed to use open flames or lighters, which were reserved for Dad and the older boys who would set off the majority of our sparkly show. We used “punks” which had a slow burn like incense sticks. Sometimes we used dried “cat-tails” plant stalks as punks.

I don’t remember if I had a punk that day, but the fountain I was trying to light was just not cooperating. I had to get a little closer to see what the problem was.

I was so intent on the lighting of the fountain, I didn’t realize I had my head right above it. I also didn’t realize I was breaking a couple of safety rules. The hard-to-start fountain finally lit, shooting its sparks directly into my eyes and face.

I moved quickly, but not fast enough, because the sparks had hit my eyes. I could smell the burning hair and could feel the burning eyelashes and brows. They ran me into the farm house and into the bathroom where I washed my face in cold water and tried to get the smell of burning hair off me. I could still see the sparks.

For ten minutes, I could still see the sparks flying in front of my eyes and I worried I would lose my sight. I kept cold compresses on my eyes, and after a while, I was OK.

It was a lesson I never forgot. Never get close to a firework. Never put your head above it. And most importantly, never try to relight them. I would also caution my readers to never use a firework with a broken wick. It will lead to trouble.

I still love a good fireworks show, I hardly ever get near them anymore because I know how dangerous they can be. I don’t regret the sense of responsibility we were given in learning how to use them safely and the thrill of blowing something up.

In hindsight, I wish I had never touched them and just watched from a safe distance. Keep the sparks in the air and please heed these warnings for a safe 4th of July!

© July 2026 A. Roe

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