AUSTIN, Texas — Travis County officials are urging residents to celebrate the Fourth of July responsibly this weekend, citing dangers from fireworks and extreme heat.

Travis County Emergency Services and the Fire Marshal’s Office are asking residents to leave fireworks to the professionals, warning that improper handling can lead to fire, injury or death. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, fireworks were linked to 15 deaths and 13,000 injuries nationwide around last year’s Fourth of July holiday, with people ages 15 to 24 at highest risk and hands, fingers and the face among the most commonly injured areas.

“Fireworks are unpredictable, and a simple mistake can result in a life-changing injury or death,” Travis County Fire Marshal Gary Howell said in a statement. “Protect your family by going to a July 4th event that features professional fireworks instead of lighting fireworks at home.”

Fireworks remain prohibited within several city limits in Travis County, including Austin, as well as in all Travis County parks. For areas where fireworks are legal, officials urged residents to never let children handle fireworks or sparklers, keep pets indoors, avoid using fireworks while impaired, keep water nearby in case of fire and never point fireworks at another person.

Parks and lake restrictions

Travis County Parks will monitor capacity throughout the holiday weekend; once a park is full, no further entry will be allowed for the day, with closures posted on the park’s webpage. All parks close at civil twilight.

Personal watercraft and similar devices will also be banned on Lake Austin near the Loop 360 boat ramp and Mary Quinlan Park from sunset Friday, July 3, until sunrise Sunday, July 5.

Heat safety

With high temperatures expected, officials urged anyone outdoors to stay hydrated, wear light clothing, use sunscreen and take breaks in shade or air conditioning. Children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles.

Heat exhaustion symptoms include heavy sweating, dizziness and nausea. Heat stroke, a medical emergency, can cause confusion, high body temperature or loss of consciousness. Officials advise calling 911 immediately if symptoms appear.

For more information, visit the Travis County Parks website.