Hiss ... crackle ... BOOM! At this time of year, the night skies explode with light and sound. The sparkling displays are awesome. But they are also exactly what their name says they are—works of fire. And everyone knows you don't play with fire!
Don't Try This at Home.
A demonstration of how backyard fireworks can accidentally ignite and cause serious injuries is presented in this simulation by the Consumer Products Safety Commission. The "person" in these pictures is a mannequin.
Fireworks are great, but they are best left to the professionals. Fireworks cause some 9,000 injuries each year in the United States. Most happen to people lighting their own fireworks, rockets, and sparklers. And most of those injuries happen between June 16 and July 16, the weeks surrounding the Fourth of July. Kids are most likely to be hurt by fireworks. According to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, around 4,000 children ages 14 and younger are treated in emergency rooms for fireworks-related injuries each year. Boys ages 10 to 14 account for the majority of those incidents. Kids playing with fireworks are looking for fun—but many end up with serious burns to their hands, faces, and eyes.
Not ToysIn many states, roadside stands hawk the goods—called consumer fireworks—with gigantic signs. The colorful packaging makes the products look like toys. With names like Cosmic Collision, Sky Dragon, and Jumping Jacks, they sound like toys. But fireworks aren't toys. Children should never touch fireworks.
Even sparklers are dangerous. Children ages 4 and younger suffer the greatest number of sparkler-related injuries. Sparklers burn at temperatures of 1000 degrees Fahrenheit or more! Sparks can ignite hair and clothing, and just a touch of the molten tip on skin can cause terrible burns.
Be LegalStill, Americans love fireworks. Can you imagine a Fourth of July without them? According to a study by the American Pyrotechnics Association, the use of fireworks in the United States has risen greatly over the past few decades. In 1976, Americans used 29 million pounds of fireworks. In 2007, the number increased to 265.5 million pounds.
Consumer fireworks are illegal in some states and legal in others. Regulations regarding fireworks vary widely from state to state, so people using them must check local laws. Federal law bans the sale of the largest and most dangerous fireworks to consumers in all states: all firecrackers containing more than 50 milligrams of powder, cherry bombs, M-80s, and large reloadable shells and aerial bombs. Mail-order kits designed to build those fireworks are also banned. Nevertheless, many people obtain fireworks illegally or build their own.
- Stand far away from the "shooter." Fireworks can be unpredictable. Bystanders can get hurt when something goes wrong.
- The shooter must be an adult
- The shooter should wear safety goggles and gloves.
- The shooter should never relight a "dud" firework. In such cases, they should wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
- Do not pick up pieces of fireworks that fall to the ground. They might still be burning hot or may reignite and can explode at any time. Leave that job to adults wearing protective cover-ups.
- Soak all fireworks in a bucket of water before throwing them in the trash can.
- Think about your pet. Animals have sensitive ears, and many dogs and cats are extremely frightened by the noise of fireworks. Keep your pets indoors to keep them safe and calm.
A Sparkling FourthSo, have a fun and festive Fourth of July. But remember, the U.S. National Fire Protection Association and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strongly recommend that fireworks be used only by professionals. Do that and you can relax, stay safe, and see the best fireworks of all!
Back to Top
Subscribe Now
RSS