Independence Day is tomorrow, which means for one day residents of Perry will be allowed to discharge fireworks within city limits. However, that activity creates a great deal of danger, so Perry Fire Chief Chris Hinds offers advice for proper fireworks safety.

First, he emphasizes that you should always be responsible when using fireworks and remember that they are explosive devices, so aiming or shooting them at another person or animal shouldn’t be done under any circumstances. Next, he warns people to always read safety instructions for the items to ensure you’re using them properly, as even something as seemingly harmless as a sparkler can cause serious damage if not handled properly. Finally, he reminds you to always be aware of your surroundings, so you don’t inadvertently set fire to dry grass under the firework, or shoot it into someone’s window.

Hinds notes that there are a wide assortment of potential injuries that can be caused by fireworks, ranging from dismemberment, to disfigurement, blindness, or even death. One instance in particular he advises people to pay special attention to is if a firework injures someone’s eye, because the best course of action may not be your first instinct. “Get immediately to the hospital, get to the emergency room right away. The best thing is to keep the person calm and just get the ambulance coming, because they’re going to be able to do the best job. They’re trained and they’re going to be able to treat the person, and provide the best care for them. But whatever you do, don’t do anything yourself to the eye in any way. Don’t rinse it or anything, because more often than not you’re going to cause more injury to the eye than what is already there.”

To learn more from Hinds about fireworks safety, listen to today’s Perry Fareway Let’s Talk Dallas County program on air and at RaccoonValleyRadio.com.