Firework Safety Tips for the Fourth of July Holiday
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, about 12,900 people suffered fireworks-related injuries in 2017 and at least 8 people died due to fireworks, with victims ranging in age from 4 to 57. The body parts most commonly injured from fireworks in 2017 include hands, fingers, head, face, and ears.
Author: Kandace Redd
Published: 5:07 AM EDT July 3, 2018
Millions of Americans will celebrate the Fourth of July with the use of fireworks.
Although fun to watch with family and friends, fireworks are extremely dangerous and can cause severe injuries or death.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, about 12,900 people suffered fireworks-related injuries in 2017 and at least 8 people died due to fireworks, with victims ranging in age from 4 to 57.
The body parts most commonly injured from fireworks in 2017 include hands, fingers, head, face, and ears.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says about 280 people go to the emergency room every day with fireworks-related injuries around the 4th of July holiday.
"CPSC works year round to help prevent deaths and injuries from fireworks," said Ann Marie Buerkle, CPSC acting chairman. "Beyond CPSC's efforts, we want to make sure everyone takes simple safety steps to celebrate safely with their family and friends. We work with the fireworks industry, monitor incoming fireworks shipments at the ports and enforce federal fireworks safety regulations, so that all Americans have a safe Fourth of July."
The Greensboro Fire Department is working to help keep the public safe from fireworks over the July 4th holiday.
Fire crews are urging the public to practice fireworks safety to avoid a trip to the emergency room.
"We prefer you don't use consumer fireworks at your home," said Captain Naomie Dixon, GFD Fire investigator. "We want you to go to professional shoots. However, if you do choose to do it at home, read the caution labels carefully and abide by those."
Fire officials are also asking the public to beware of the use of sparklers.
Sparklers are the number one cause of injuries during the 4th of July holiday.
Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees, as hot as a blow torch.
"If you think about your oven, do you don't want your kids playing around your oven and it maxes out at about 500 degrees," said Dixon. "If you take that into consideration, the sparklers get way hotter than that and there are just a few inches away from their fingers."
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission offers the following safety tips when using fireworks:
- Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
- Avoid buying fireworks that are packaged in brown paper because this is often a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and that they could pose a danger to consumers.
- Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities. Parents don't realize that young children suffer injuries from sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees - hot enough to melt some metals.
- Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Back up to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.
- Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully.
- Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
- Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.
- Light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly.
- Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.
- After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding it to prevent a trash fire.
- Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.
© 2018 WFMY
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