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According to PREVENT BLINDNESS AMERICA nearly 13,000 fireworks victims
visit the hospital annually, and more than half of them are children.
40 percent of fireworks mishaps injure bystanders.
Most fireworks-related injuries involve bottle rockets, firecrackers,
and sparklers. Bottle rockets and firecrackers can fly in any direction
before exploding; the terperature a sparkler burns at is hot enough to
melt gold.
Fireworks Safety Hints:
Storing Fireworks
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| Store fireworks safely
in a cool, dry place out of the reach of children and animals. A
closed, locked box is best. Don't keep the box under the stairs
or in a passageway. |
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Pets
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| Pets hate bangs and flashes. Even
outdoor pets should be kept inside during fireworks displays. Lcosing
the curtains will help ease their distress at the bright flashing
lights, even if it doesn't muffle the sound. |
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Space
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| Make sure you have
a safe place with a goodly distance between the box of fireworks
and the place where you are setting them off. Don't forget to have
a full bucket of water closeby for emergencies and used sparklers.
If several families are getting together for the display, try to
hold in the biggest yard. |
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Bonfires
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Bonfires should be built well away from houses, fences, sheds,
trees, hedges, and shrubs.
Never use a flammable liquid like gas or kerosene to start a
bonfire.
Silly as it sounds, check to be sure that an animal hasn't hidden
inside the bonfire since you built it.
Don't light it until after all your fireworks have been let
off. Keep everyone a safe distance away, and don't allow anyone
to throw anything onto it.
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Clothing
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Loose clothing and long dangling scarves can catch fire very
easily, and should not be worn near any fire. If clothing does
catch fire:
STOP DON'T RUN
DROP TO THE GROUND
ROLL OVER TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES
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Lighting the Fireworks
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Only one adult should let off the fireworks. Children should
not be allowed to light the fireworks under any circumstances.
Set the fireworks off one at a time (not several at once) and
don't rush.
Hold each firework at arm's length and use a firework lighter
fuse wick. Stand well back immediately.
A firework that doesn't go off immediately could still be live
- don't go back to it. At the end of the display, douse it in
a bucket of water and bury it when it's thoroughly soaked.
Never throw a firework onto a bonfire.
Different fireworks mean different hazards. Read the instructions
on each firework carefully, using a flashlight, not a naked flame.
Rockets should be launched from a rocket launcher, not from
a bottle.
Light sparklers one at a time at arm's length.
Do NOT give sparklers to children
under 5
Use gloves when holding sparklers.
Put spent sparklers into a bucket of water as soon as they go
out.
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