Perhaps the highlight of summer is the 4th of July holiday. And of course, nothing says the 4th like fireworks. Fireworks are fun, but dangerous. Every year, thousands of Americans are injured during Independence Day weekend and many of those injuries are firework-related. Children, especially, are vulnerable to injuries due to use of fireworks, particularly firecrackers, bottle rockets and sparklers.

Be aware of these potential dangers and always supervise children. If you're planning on using fireworks this year, you might want to familiarize yourself with the Indiana firework laws and safety tips, provided by the Indiana State Police.

Indiana Firework Laws

• Only individuals 18 years of age or older can purchase fireworks.
  A person 18 years of age or older has to be present when anyone younger than 18 is using or possessing fireworks.
• Fireworks can only be used on the user's property, the property of someone who granted permission for fireworks to be discharged, or a place designated by the Indiana State Fire Marshal for the discharge of consumer fireworks.
• Fireworks can only be discharged between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. any day except on Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, and New Year's Eve where the times are 9:00 a.m. to midnight.
  Anyone who plans to use fireworks at anytime during the year should check local government entities for any local ordinances which may further restrict or have additional requirements for the use of fireworks. Failure to adhere to the law can result in serious consequences.
  For more information on Fireworks Laws and Safety visit the Indiana Department of Homeland Security website.