Fireworks and sparklers are a fun way to celebrate our independence, but they can also be dangerous. Stay safe this July 4th by following these safety tips from USA Today.

Cookouts and fireworks are what many Carolina residents picture when thinking of July 4th. Millions of people across the US set off fireworks in their own backyards or on their streets for large groups to watch. Fireworks and sparklers are fun to watch, but there are a lot of safety measures that should be taken when handling them.

Fireworks and sparkler accidents can potentially be fatal and lead to thousands of hospital trips each year. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's 2022 Fireworks Annual Report, last year over 10,000 people were brought into emergency rooms from fireworks-related injuries. Tragically, 11 people died from these injuries.

Last year the highest number of July 4th injuries were from firecrackers, which caused 1,300 people to be hospitalized. Sparklers are also a leading cause of hospital visits on the 4th. There were 600 hospital reports from sparklers in 2022. These injuries weren't even all caused on the 4th. Up to 73% of these firework-related injuries occurred in the weeks leading up to or after the Fourth of July.

Due to the popularity of setting off fireworks on the Fourth of July, many safety groups and government agencies have released their safety tips and practices for the holiday.

This is what is recommended by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to stay safe around fireworks:

Along with following state and local laws surrounding fireworks, here's what the Department of Homeland Security recommends:

Sparklers are commonly used on the Fourth of July as a replacement or addition to fireworks, and it is common for them to be used around or by children. Sparklers become extremely hot then lit, between 1,800-3,000 degrees, and can cause some bad injuries.

The American Pyrotechnics Association recommends that you never light or hold more than one sparkler at a time. They also say you should keep them at an arm's length away from the body at all times.

The association also recommends adults closely supervise any children under 12 using sparklers.

The National Safety Council recommends ditching sparklers altogether and using safer alternatives including glow sticks, confetti poppers, or colored streamers.

Safety is surely a priority when picking a location to live. Before moving into a new area people tend to look up crime in the area just to get an idea of where are they moving into. Certainly, it is understandable to want to be in a location that is safe for you and your family and friends that may be visiting. It is all about creating a calm and safe environment around you.

Home Snacks understands that and generated a list of the safest cities to live in for 2022 in the U.S. The purpose of the list is to help determine some of the top safest cities in the country. They analyzed 283 cities within America with a population of more than 100,000 to come up with this list. One North Carolina city has been making a name for itself by appearing on tons of lists recently. Wondering which North Carolina city has been named one of the safest cities in America? Check out the full top 10 list below and share your thoughts!