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Illegal and Improper Use of Fireworks Continues to Harm Consumers; More than Half of Injuries Occur Around July 4th Holiday
Three statements from CPSC Acting Chairman Nancy Nord in MP3 format:
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(90 seconds total)
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For most Americans, the Fourth of July celebration is a time for food, fun, and fireworks. But, in 2007, nearly 10,000 Americans were treated in emergency rooms for firework-related injuries. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that 64 percent of these injuries occurred during the one-month period surrounding the Independence Day holiday.
A review of these injuries shows that burns were the most common--accounting for more than half of the incidents. The parts of the body most often injured were the hands (an estimated 2,000 injuries), the eyes (1,400 injuries), and the legs (1,200 injuries). Over the last 10 years, there has been an upward trend in injuries; 11 deaths were reported in 2007--the same number as the previous year.
"No one should go from a backyard celebration to the emergency room with firework-related injuries," says CPSC Acting Chairman Nancy Nord. "Using only legal fireworks--and using them correctly--is an important step towards celebrating safely."
To reduce injuries, CPSC recommends following these firework-safety tips:
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Never allow young children to play with, or ignite, fireworks.
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Make sure that fireworks are legal in your area, before buying or using them.
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Avoid buying fireworks that come in brown-paper packaging--as this can often be a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays, and could pose a danger to consumers.
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Adults should always supervise fireworks activities. Parents often don't realize that there are many injuries from sparklers to children under five. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees--hot enough to melt some metals.
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Never have any portion of your body directly over a fireworks device, when lighting the fuse. Move back a safe distance immediately after lighting.
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Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not fully functioned.
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Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
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Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy, in case of fire or other mishap.
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Light one item at a time--then move back quickly.
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Never carry fireworks in a pocket, or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.
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After fireworks fully complete their functioning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose, before discarding, in order to prevent a trash fire.
