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Fireworks Safety

What comes to mind when we think of July 4^th? Picnics, parties, parades and, of course, FIREWORKS – they are an American tradition! What would our nation’s birthday celebrations be without them? Children and adults alike ooh and aah at the brilliant sparkles and loud booms. However, a fun-filled afternoon can quickly turn to a tragic evening if safety precautions are not taken when fireworks are being used.

In a report by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, it was estimated that 5,700 fireworks-related injuries were treated in U. S. hospital emergency departments during the one-month special study period surrounding the 4th of July, 1999 (June 23, 1999 – July 23, 1999). The highest injury estimates were for firecrackers (1,800), rockets (1,000), and sparklers (600). These were about the same levels as 1998.

During this one-month period, as in previous years, injuries to children were a major component of fireworks-related injuries with children under 15 accounting for 45 percent of the injuries. About 35 percent of the injuries to children under age 15 involved firecrackers. Rockets accounted for about 20 percent of the injuries and sparklers accounted for about 15 percent of the injuries.

Eye injuries account for nearly 1500 of the injuries and of these, about one-third result in permanent eye damage and a quarter end in permanent vision loss or blindness, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

So how can we safely enjoy the excitement of fireworks? By following some basic tips, our 4^th of July celebrations will be spent at the party and not the hospital:

Begin by considering attending only professional fireworks displays. It’s safer, cheaper and more impressive. Respect barriers set up by the professionals who are putting on the show. Bystanders suffer about 25% of all fireworks-related injuries. If you stand 500 feet away, you’ll be safe (and you’ll have the best possible view).

If you do plan to set off your own fireworks, you need to know the difference between legal consumer fireworks and dangerous explosives. If you see an item called an M-80, M-100, Blockbuster, or Quarterpounder, these are against the law and usually bear a manufacturer’s label. Illegal mail order kits contain chemical mixtures that can explode unexpectedly and violently. M-80s, cherry bombs and quarter sticks are so highly explosive that Federal law has banned them since 1966. They can cause injury or even death. Check with your local fire department to learn what fireworks can be legally set off in your area.

NEVER allow children to handle fireworks. Sparklers are not safe for children! They burn at a temperature hot enough to melt gold (1,800 degrees). Also, used sparkler wires are especially dangerous at night. These must be disposed of into a container away from children and bare feet!

Bottle Rockets are the most dangerous consumer fireworks. They fly erratically and can shower spectators with glass, metal and shrapnel.

If you’re putting on the fireworks display yourself, use a transparent mask or glasses made of a strong material such as polycarbonate.

Here are some general fireworks safety tips to remember from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:

· Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks.

· Read and follow all warnings and instructions.

· Be sure other people are out of range before lighting fireworks.

· Only light fireworks on a smooth, flat surface away from the house, dry leaves, and flammable materials.

· Never try to re-light fireworks that have not fully functioned.

· Keep a bucket of water or a hose handy in case of a malfunction or fire.

However, should an accident occur, immediate action is imperative. The following are categories of burns:

- Thin or superficial burns (also called first-degree burns) are red and painful. They swell a little. They turn white when you press on them. The skin over the burn may peel off in 1 or 2 days

- Thicker burns, called superficial partial-thickness and deep partial-thickness burns (also called second-degree burns), have blisters and are painful.

- Full-thickness burns (also called third-degree burns) cause damage to all layers of the skin. The burned skin looks white or charred. These burns may cause little or no pain if nerves are damaged

In the event of an EYE INJURY, Prevent Blindness America recommends the following:

· Do not delay medical attention even for seemingly mild injuries. "Mildly" damaged areas can worsen and end in serious vision loss, even blindness, that might not have happened if treatment had occurred immediately.

· Stay calm, do not panic; keep the child as calm as possible.

· Do not rub the eye. If any eye tissue is torn, rubbing might push out the eye's contents and cause more damage. Trying to rub the eye is an automatic response to pain, but pressure will only do more harm. Take the child's hand from his or her face.

· Do not attempt to rinse out the eye. This can be even more damaging than rubbing.

· Shield the eye from pressure. Tape or secure the bottom of a foam cup, milk carton or similar shield against the bones surrounding the eye: brow, cheek and bridge of the nose.

· Avoid giving aspirin or ibuprofen (or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, called "N-SAIDS") to try to reduce the pain. They thin the blood and might increase bleeding. Acetaminophen is the over-the-counter drug of choice. Unfortunately, non-prescription painkillers will not be of much help. It is better to by-pass the drugstore or medicine cabinet and get to the emergency room right away.

· Do not apply ointment or any medication. It is probably not sterile. Also, ointments make the eye area slippery. This could slow the doctor's examination at a time when every second counts.

If you decide to use fireworks as part of your festivities, remember to be safety- conscious. However, the best way to enjoy the splendor of sky rockets is to leave the pyrotechnics to the professionals. Then all you’ll have to do is pack the picnic basket and sit back and enjoy the show.

Happy Birthday, America!

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