June is Fireworks Safety Month

The Fourth of July is right around the corner, which means June is a great month to brush up on your knowledge about fireworks and firework safety. Fireworks cause thousands of injuries and emergency room visits each year. They result in thousands of fires and millions of dollars in property damage annually. The only way to be truly safe around fireworks is not to use them at all, but if you want to incorporate them in your holiday celebration, make sure to be aware of the dangers and follow the safety tips below. There are many restrictions as to where you can sell, possess and discharge fireworks, so make sure you check with your local jurisdiction to see what is legal in your area.

National Fireworks Laws

• 7 states ban the use of all fireworks for private use. (Arizona, Delaware, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island)
• 6 states allow only sparklers and/or novelties. (Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Vermont)
• The remaining states and the District of Columbia permit the sale of fireworks for private use.

Local Fireworks Laws

• At this time, Texas state law permits the sale of fireworks for consumer use during certain times of the year (June 24-July 4 and December 20-January 1).
• In most cases, fireworks can only be discharged in unincorporated areas of a county.
• Consumers should always check local laws before buying or discharging fireworks.
• For information about what is legal in Collin County, visit the Collin County Fire Marshal: Personal Fireworks Use page.

Fireworks Facts

• Bottle rockets are the most frequent cause of serious eye injury requiring hospitalization (U.S. Eye Injury Registry).
• Sparklers can burn at temperatures up to 1800°F (hot enough to melt gold) and were the leading cause of all injuries in the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission 2002 Report.
• Innocent bystanders are often at risk and rockets are often the cause. Rockets are unpredictable and their flight path is erratic.
• From 1989 through 1993, home fires started by fireworks resulted in more than $115.7 million in property damage.
• Fireworks cause thousands of fires and millions of dollars in direct property damage every year.
• In a study of 53 serious eye injuries caused by fireworks, 56.6% needed surgical intervention. Bottle rockets were responsible for all surgeries in which the injured eye had to be removed. Permanent residual vision loss occurred in 92.5% of the cases (Eye Injury Registry of Alabama).
• Bystanders are injured more often than the people who fire off fireworks.

Fireworks Injuries in 2003

• In 2003 approximately 9,300 fireworks injuries were treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms.
• A special survey estimated 6,800 injuries, directly involving fireworks, were treated in hospital emergency rooms during the one-month period surrounding the Fourth of July, 2003. This indicates that almost 75% of fireworks injuries occur during this time.
• Fireworks such as firecrackers, rockets, novelties, reloadables, roman candles and public displays caused an estimated 1,400 eye injuries in 2003.
• 45% of fireworks injuries were to children under the age of 15.
• The parts of the body most often injured were the hands (26%), eyes (21%), legs (18%), head/face/ears (18%), trunk (12%) and arms/shoulders (7%).
• Six people were killed by fireworks in 2003 – including a 2-year-old boy.

Firework Safety

If you are going to be using fireworks, use them responsibly by following these safety tips.

• Always buy from an established retail outlet
• Never experiment or make your own fireworks
• Look out for teens experimenting with home made fireworks
• Have a responsible adult present and in charge
• Never give fireworks to children
• Always read and follow the directions on the label
• Only use fireworks outdoors
• Always have water nearby (a garden hose and a bucket)
• The person shooting the fireworks should wear eye protection—and never have any part of their body over a firework
• Light only one firework at a time
• Never re-light a “dud” firework (wait 15-20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water)
• Never throw or point fireworks at other people
• Never shoot fireworks in metal or glass containers
• Never carry fireworks in your pocket. Carry them in their original bag or box.
• Dispose of fireworks properly—when you’re done, soak them in water before putting them in the trash can
• If at all possible, don’t store fireworks. If you have to store them, store them in a cool dry place and keep them out of the reach of children.

Six Steps to Help Save Your Child’s Sight

If an accident does occur, these steps can be taken right away to minimize the damage to the eye:

1. Do not rub the eye. Rubbing the eye may increase bleeding or make the injury worse.
2. Do not attempt to rinse the eye out. This can be even more damaging than rubbing.
3. Do not apply pressure to the eye itself. Holding or taping a foam cup or the bottom of a juice carton to they eye are just two tips. Protecting the eye from further contact with any item, including the child’s hand, is the goal.
4. Do not stop for medicine! Over-the-counter pain relievers will not do much to relieve pain. Aspirin should never be given to children and ibuprofen can thin the blood, increasing bleeding. Take the child to the emergency room at once – this is more important than stopping for a pain reliever.
5. Do not apply ointment. Ointment, which may not be sterile, makes the area around the eye slippery and harder for the doctor to examine.
6. Do not let your child play with fireworks, even if his/her friends are setting them off. Sparklers burn at 1800°F and bottle rockets can stray off course or throw shrapnel when they explode.

Prevent Blindness America

Prevent Blindness America warns that there is no safe way for nonprofessionals to use fireworks. They feel that the only effective means of eliminating the social and economic impact of fireworks-related trauma and damage is by developing and enforcing restrictions on the importation, sale and use of all fireworks, except those used in authorized public displays by competent licensed operators. This organization supports the following message:

• Fireworks are extremely dangerous!
• Do not purchase, use or store fireworks of any type.
• Protect yourself, your family and your friends by avoiding fireworks.
• Attend only authorized public fireworks displays conducted by licensed operators, but be aware that even professional displays can be dangerous.

Health care practitioners and local authorities should consistently report any fireworks-related injuries, property damages and deaths. Injuries and incidents can be reported to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission by calling 1-800-638-2772 or sending an email to info@cpsc.gov.