While many media organizations subscribe to the "if it bleeds, it leads" credo when reporting on incidents, accidents, and other related tragedies, the last thing any of our staff at The Newtown Bee ever wants to report on is news involving injuries — or worse. While it is our obligation to pursue and report the news, including bad news about such related situations, we always endeavor to do so conservatively, and with great sensitivity to those involved and the community at large.

So with that in mind, and summer officially upon us as we celebrate the upcoming long Independence Day weekend, our Bee staff is standing with and supporting safety officials from across the state, and especially our hometown heroes: the dedicated men and women who make up our Newtown Police Department, our Emergency Communications team, the community’s emergency management officials, the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps, our recently and unfortunately extremely busy Newtown Underwater Search & Rescue squad, along with each and every member and supporter of our five volunteer fire companies in Botsford, Sandy Hook, Hawleyville, Dodgingtown, and our neighbors at Newtown Hook & Ladder.

We also appreciate the staff at the Newtown Fire Marshal’s Office, who issued a sober reminder about one of this weekend’s — and now seemingly year-round — prime elements of personal pyrotechnic entertainment: fireworks.

The Newtown Fire Marshal’s Office reminds residents and visitors to our community about the type of fireworks permitted to be used in Connecticut. Per Public Act 06-177 Effective June 9, 2006, the only types of fireworks that can be purchased and used by Connecticut residents are "sparklers" and "fountains." Sparkler and fountains are defined as “Any sparkling device of not more than 100 grams of pyrotechnic mixture per item.”

These fireworks can only give showers of sparks; they cannot explode and must be non-aerial. Only persons 16 years of age or older can purchase and use sparklers and fountains. Always use care and safe measures when handling these types of legal fireworks, and remember that sparklers burn at a very high temperature — the wire reaches 1,100 degrees.

Our regional Red Cross office picks it up from there, noting that the safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public fireworks show put on by professionals. Just be sure you and those with you stay at least 500 feet away from the show. Leave any area immediately where untrained amateurs are using fireworks. And if you are setting fireworks off at home, follow these safety steps:

Never give fireworks to small children, and never throw or point a firework toward people, animals, vehicles, structures, or flammable materials. Always follow the instructions on the packaging. Have a supply of water close by as a precaution. Make sure the person lighting fireworks always wears eye protection. Light only one firework at a time and never attempt to relight a dud. And store fireworks in a cool, dry place away from children and pets.

Summer, and especially the Independence Day weekend, should be filled with fun, friends, family, and memorable get-togethers — especially after the past year and a half of pandemic restrictions. Let us all do our part to help make The Newtown Bee’s post-holiday and summer reporting upbeat, and all those memories positive ones by enjoying ourselves and playing it safe.