Ringing in the New Year in a sparkling style and on a budget

Online, December 21, 2009 (Newswire.com) - FLORENCE, Ala. (December 21, 2009) - It's time to celebrate!! You can make this year's holiday one of the best and brightest by simply adding some spark to the evening, courtesy of TNT Fireworks®.

"This year more people are staying home but they still want to create an exciting party atmosphere without a large expense," says Tommy Glasgow, president of TNT Fireworks East. "Sparklers add a cheerful and celebratory touch to any party and provide safe, affordable fun. They should be on every host or hostess' New Year's shopping list."

TNT Fireworks®, the nation's leading distributor of fireworks and sparklers, provides some suggestions to plan for a New Year's Eve bash:

- Create a festive atmosphere by giving guests party favor kits at the door. A perfect favor kit includes party horns, 2010 party hats, tiaras, and sparklers. Lead everyone outside as the clock heads towards midnight, blow your horn, put on your hat and light the sparklers. When the clock strikes 12, hold the sparklers in the air and lead the group in a rendition of "Auld Lang Syne."

- Bring the sparkle of the big city to your home. While counting down to the new year, lead your guests outside for their very own new year's countdown. Light some of TNT's various sparkler products to create a special countdown celebration. Make sure you have a variety and save the best and brightest for a spectacular finale.

- Make sure you have plenty of your favorite TNT sparklers and download your favorite tunes to create your own 2010 Sparkler Mix. Plan your sparkler display to coincide with your music for a memorable spectacle. The American Fountain, for example, makes a resounding bang to Prince's "1999" or Kool and the Gang's "Celebration."

Of course, safety should also be top of mind when planning creative ways to welcome 2010. Remember to keep children and pets away from all consumer sparklers. By taking the following simple, precautionary steps, revelers can enjoy New Year's Eve in style, while preventing unnecessary injuries:
- Once you've made your sparkler purchase, keep them in a safe place... out of the reach of children until you're ready to use them.
- Young children should not light or handle sparklers.
- Use good common sense and always read and follow all warnings and instructions that appear on a sparkler item or its packaging.
- Always keep a hose and a bucket of water nearby in case of emergencies. Used sparklers should be soaked in a bucket of water prior to being discarded.
- Use sparklers outdoors, only in clear areas, away from houses, buildings, fences, dry grass, and trees. Your sparkler display area should also be smooth, flat, level and swept clean of debris.
- Never attempt to fix or relight a sparkler - if it fails to light, do not relight it. Place it in a bucket of water and make sure it is fully soaked before discarding it.
- Animals are sometimes frightened by sparklers. To protect your "best friends," keep them indoors - away from the loud noise - and secure.
- As with any purchase, check the credibility of the distributor to make sure their sparklers are reliable, legal and come from a licensed source.
- Remember - not all sparklers are the same. Be sure to purchase products that are manufactured by a trusted, established company that puts safety first.
- Do not smoke when handling any type of sparkler.
- Do not use sparklers while under the influence of alcohol.
- Always use products that are legal in your community. States and local communities regulate the type of products that may be sold and used by consumers. So make sure you follow state laws and local ordinances.

"The success of multiple safety education initiatives has helped consumers learn about the appropriate way to use sparklers, leading to a significant decrease in mishaps. Injuries have been reduced, even as consumption has risen over the last few decades," says Glasgow. "We're confident this trend will continue as more festivities take place at home this year, bringing people together to ring in 2010 affordably and responsibly."
For more information about where state-approved TNT fireworks are for sale, visit www.tntfireworks.com, or call (256) 764-6131.

ABOUT TNT FIREWORKS
TNT® Fireworks (TNT) is the nation's largest distributor of consumer fireworks and novelty items. For more than 50 years, TNT has set the benchmark for safety, customer satisfaction, innovation and quality in the fireworks industry. For more information about TNT Fireworks, visit www.tntfireworks.com.
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