THE LAST WORD:Be safe this Fourth of July

Fireworks killed at least 11 people in the U.S. last year, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The annual average is usually about seven fatalities. Last year, emergency rooms treated about 9,200 fireworks-related injuries, and about 6,400 of those happened in the one-month period before and after the Fourth of July.

Be aware of that this week while celebrating our nation’s birth. Fireworks, even something as seemingly benign as sparklers, can be dangerous. Did you know they can reach temperatures up to 2,000 degrees? Remember that when your kid runs around the backyard this week with a sparkler in hand.

We’re not killjoys — we just want you to be safe.

Allow us also to remind you not to drink and drive. And if one of your friends has had a few too many, please take their keys away and call a cab.