There's nothing like a beautiful fireworks display to illuminate this weekend's celebration, but there's also nothing like a serious injury to ruin it.

The National Council on Fireworks Safety urges Americans to use caution when setting off fireworks, and likewise, to abide by state laws regarding their use.To ensure safe practices during your Fourth of July festivities, follow these simple guidelines.KNOW THE RULES. The legality of fireworks in Pennsylvania is most often handled by local municipalities.Basically, an item is legal to buy if the report does not leave the canister.If it does leave the canister, a permit is required, which can be granted by the municipality in which your display will take place and involves a fee and a safety course.Firework dealers such as TNT Fireworks, sold mostly at Walmart locations, offer fireworks that do not require a permit.In order to transport large quantities of hazardous materials such as fireworks, hazmat certification is required, and packages must be marked and labeled.Ensure credibility. If someone is hired to do the display, they should be registered with the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General.Buy from a reliable source. Dealers should be licensed and should not offer any hidden, crazy deals, as this can result in faulty fireworks that may cause serious harm. Do not experiment with homemade fireworks.Read safety instructions. Each product may have different warnings, so be sure to know how each firework should be handled.Pick a safe spot. Designate an open area to ignite the fireworks on a hard, flat surface. If the site you choose happens to be covered in grass or gravel, use plywood as a base. Also, take wind into account. Set fireworks in a direction where wind is blowing away from trees, cars, buildings and your audience.Be prepared. The person handling the fireworks should be a sober, competent adult and should use a long-neck butane lighter. A fire extinguisher or a bucket of water should be kept nearby in case of an emergency.Keep your distance. The adult lighting the device should not have any part of his or her body over the product, and no child should be in close proximity. Any audience should be at least 30 feet from the ignition site.Put animals indoors. The commotion caused by fireworks can often frighten animals or pets, so avoid setting off fireworks close to a farm, and put pets indoors to ensure that they are protected.Don't relight a dud. If a device fails to ignite, wait 20 minutes, then put it in a bucket of water.Don't underestimate. Even sparklers can cause injury. According to the National Fire Protection Association, 24 percent of fireworks-related injuries in 2011 were caused by sparklers. An adult should supervise children using sparklers at all times.read safety instructions: Just in case you missed it the first time around, read the directions.Use common sense. Nobody wants to spend their holiday weekend in the emergency room, so use proper judgment in order to keep friends, family and yourself safe this Independence Day.