Bill Weimer: Hi! I'm Bill Weimer with Phantom Fireworks. Today, we're talking about the importance of consumer fireworks safety, and we'd like to talk about the basic issues first. Use commonsense, remember, these products, in order to function, they have to burn, and you must respect the fact that you're dealing with fire.

Children should never touch the products, these are products that children should enjoy by watching, but never touching. Always have a ready source of water available. A connected hose is best, but short of that, you can use a fire extinguisher or even a bucket of water.

Never consume alcohol when using fireworks. You should always have a designated shooter just like you have a designated driver. I realize, it will be hot when you're shooting fireworks, but how about a bottle of water instead. Another never is smoking, obviously. Never smoke around fireworks in order to avoid an inadvertent ignition.

Be careful handling the products, be careful never to drop them, and certainly, never carry any firework products on your person or in your pockets. Be sure and shop at reliable licensed dealers; don't be afraid to ask your dealer if he is licensed.

Never aim or point the fireworks at anybody. Shooting something at someone is a felony, and you could be arrested for that.

Use the fireworks outdoors, never use them indoors. If you have fireworks left over, make sure you store them in a cool dry place: in your garage, in your basement, up off the ground. As long as the products stay dry, they'll last for several years.

Finally, make sure you dispose of your products properly. Douse them with water. Never allow them to stay inside overnight. Always allow them to cool down and stay overnight outside.

Now that we've talked about the basics of fireworks safety, let's move on to selecting a good launch site.