The Kentucky Fire Commission wants Fourth of July celebrations to be safe as well as fun.
Executive Director Ronnie Day says people who buy and use fireworks shouldn't forget they are explosives and that consumers don't have much control over them. Day advises leaving fireworks to professionals.
The commission says eight people died last year in the U.S. and 11,400 were injured while handling fireworks, up from 8,700 in 2012. The highest per capita rate of fireworks injuries was to children younger than 5 years old.
People who do choose to have displays at home are advised to buy from a reputable dealer, follow manufacturer directions, have water nearby to extinguish discarded fireworks or for an emergency, light only one firework at a time and don't let young children handle fireworks.