We’ll soon be seeing the tents and fliers with fireworks for Fourth of July celebrations.

While it’s been legal for the last few years to buy some fireworks in Minnesota, we urge people to use common sense around them &045; especially around children.

Explosive, aerial consumer fireworks &045; such as bottle rockets and firecrackers &045; are still illegal and dangerous.

But people can buy things like sparklers. Burning sparklers can reach 1,800 degrees, but people hand them to small children without thinking. In other circumstances, things can have delayed combustion. People who try to relight a device can lose eyes or fingers when it does light up.

It only takes one incident to cause irreversible damage.

According to an annual survey of Minnesota hospitals by the state fire marshal, 20 fireworks injuries were reported in 2001. In 2002, when certain types of fireworks became legal in Minnesota, that number jumped to 92. Last year, in 2004, that number climbed to 111 injuries because of fireworks.

Overall, approximately 8,000 fireworks-related injuries occur each year in the United States. Of those, 2,000 are eye injuries caused by consumer fireworks. One-third of those eye injuries result in permanent blindness.

Not all victims happen to be the person setting them off. In fact, 40 percent of fireworks injuries are to innocent bystanders. Bottle rockets, which can move as fast as 200 mph, account for nearly 75 percent of injuries.

Please think about how dangerous fireworks can be and exercise caution around them. Or better yet, plan to view our own spectacular, community-sponsored fireworks display.

Don’t play with fire.