For all of you fireworks enthusiasts out there, please be careful over the next week or so.  The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) released their 2007 Fireworks Annual Report (PDF) yesterday and estimated that 9,800 fireworks related injuries were treated during the year 2007 and that 6,300 or 64% we treated from June 22, 2007 to July 22, 2007.

Part of the reason for their concern is that amount of fireworks that are being imported from fro China, Hong Kong and Thailand.

Now lets see the figures from 1997.

As you can see, people that use fireworks doing so in a safer manner but the amount of imported fireworks as risen drastically.

The CPSC does has some tips for the safe use fireworks.

1. Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks
2. Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.
3. 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.
4. Adults should always supervise fireworks activities.  Parents often don’t realize that there are many injuries from sparklers to children under fix.  Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees - hot enough to melt some metals.
5. Never have any portion of your body directly over the fireworks device when lighting the fuse.  Move back a safe distance immediately after lighting.
6. Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not fully functioned.
7. Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
8. Keep a bucket of water or garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.
9. Light one item at a time, then move back quickly
10. Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.
11. After fireworks fully complete their functioning, douse the spent device with plenty of water form a bucket or hose before discarding to prevent a trash fire.

I would add that it would probably be safe to keep a pair of thick work gloves and a phone close by.  After following step 11, put the gloves as an extra layer of protection in case you didn’t douse the device with enough water.  Keep a phone close by so that if things to get out of control, you can all your local fire department or 911.

If you have any other tips or suggestions, feel free to make a comment for others to read.

Please be safe during this July 4th holiday season.

Source