• Safety Tips:
• Community Safety Part I :Fireworks Safety
• Community Safety Part II :Safely Handling Fireworks
• Statistics:The Hazards of Fireworks

Community Safety I:

Fireworks and summer are seemingly synonymous; it's hard to imagine one without the other. Aside from the traditional 4th of July displays, fireworks are the highlight of many local and regional fairs and other types of community gatherings held during the summer months. Fortunately, most of these displays are produced by people with extensive fireworks experience. This doesn't mean, however, that your safety at public fireworks displays is totally guaranteed; as in any type of public gathering, there are steps you can take to reduce the chance that you or a family member will be injured.

The first thing you can do is to respect any official barriers that have been constructed. Remember, those barriers were put in place for a reason: to help keep you safe. Contrary to what you might think, it is not necessary to be close to the actual launch site to fully enjoy the show, in fact, the best view can be obtained by those situated a quarter mile or more away.

If you do find yourself close to the staging area, resist the temptation to get an up-close look at the detonation process. Aside from the fact that you could place yourself in harm's way, there is a good chance that you will prove to be a distraction to the pyrotechnicians handling the explosives. And, while the chances of this actually happening are rare, if a firework that has not exploded land on the ground near you, do not touch it. Instead, you should alert an official who will ensure that it is safely removed from the area.

If you are considering putting on your own fireworks show, there are several things you need to be aware of. First and foremost, you need to know what, if any, types of fireworks can be legally discharged in your state. The best place to get the most current information is from your local police department. While the laws vary from state to state, there are a few things you can count on: the explosives referred to as M-80s, M-100s and blockbusters are banned by the federal government. To get around this, many unscrupulous vendors will sell these explosives in unmarked wrappers. As a result, you should refrain from purchasing any fireworks that are not clearly labeled with information regarding the type of explosive and the manufacturerís name. Similarly, you should steer clear of kits that allow you to mix and build your own fireworks. Remember, you are dealing with very potent explosives; a slight miscalculation could turn out to be a deadly mistake.

Community Safety II:

Once you've done your homework and have determined which types of fireworks you can legally launch in your neighborhood, there are still a few things you should know to ensure that your show proceeds injury-free.

First and foremost, fireworks should be handled only by adults. That said, the adult in charge of setting off the explosives should always take the time to read the package directions and follow them explicitly. Since there is always the chance of a stray spark flying or an unanticipated explosion, you should be sure to have a garden hose and a bucket of water nearby. To reduce the likelihood of serious eye injury, the person in charge of launching should wear goggles or some other type of protective eye gear.

While there is nothing more breath-taking than a fireworks finale in which multiple charges are detonated at once, this is something that should be left to the professionals. For your own backyard displays, you should only explode one device at a time. Likewise, should a devise fail to light, never try to relight it. Instead, leave it alone for at least twenty minutes and then submerge it into a bucket of water. similarly, you should thoroughly soak discharged casings in water before disposing of them.

If you find that you have purchased more fireworks than you are able to launch, be sure to store them in a cool dry place. You should never store fireworks in the trunk of your car, in a shed or anywhere else where the temperature can climb to high levels.

To better assess your ability to safely handle fireworks, you can take the quiz found on the National Council on Fireworks Safety. The test and corresponding answers can be found by clicking on the link found in the panel on the right side of the home page (Please note that Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view the test and answer key).

Statistics:

According to statistics provided by National Council on Fireworks Safety, injuries relating to fireworks use have actually decreased in recent years. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that the number of fireworks-related injuries in the United States fell from 12,500 in 1992, to 9,600 in 2004. This is a decrease of almost 70%.

Currently, 45 states and the District of Columbia allow the sale of fireworks. Fireworks are still considered to be illegal in New Jersey, Delaware, New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Many other states have specific restrictions on the types of fireworks they consider to be legal. To learn more about the fireworks laws in your state, click on this map.

However, even with these strict regulations, illegal fireworks continue to be a very serious problem. In fact, over the last ten years, nearly one-third of fireworks-related injuries resulted from illegal or homemade fireworks devices.

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