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Fireworks are not just for the Fourth of July! Oohs and Aahs, but no OWS!
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Develop a Safety Attitude and always wear safety glasses
Everyone, from the littlest to the biggest, enjoys a good firework display. Recently on a drive from Houston to Orlando Florida, I discovered a number of states that sell fireworks year around. On a beautiful October evening when I was on a beach in Florida I saw a family put on terrific firework show. And while it didn’t really feel like the Fourth of July there were plenty of booms and sparks to fill the sky. No one should wake up after a firework display and only be able to count to nine. Following the safety rules for good firework fun is not really that hard and can save a finger, an eye or even a life. Simple fireworks like sparklers cause 16% of all consumer firework injuries. In 2008 consumers set off over 186.4 Million pounds of fireworks. That’s a lot of gunpowder, think about it.
-Sparklers and bare feet lead to a very interesting dance step. Wear shoes when ever you use fireworks.
-Sparkler wire and sticks remain hot long after the flame goes out. Be sure to drop them in a bucket of water. -Demonstrate and model good safety habits for your children when doing fireworks. Always wear safety glasses. When your kids grow up they’ll remember these lessons.
-Do not set off illegal fireworks or encourage others to do the same.
-Do not try to make your own fireworks. You don’t want to really wake up and look like a pirate, do you?
-Do not allow children to run around unattended at firework displays or at any gathering.
-If you choose to allow your children to have sparklers or other items, make sure there are pails of water for when they freak out and pitch them. Sparklers are loads of fun, right up to the moment they look like they might melt flesh.
- If the weather has been exceptionally dry, windy or even worse, windy and dry then ixnay on the arklersspay. (No sparklers.)
According to the NEISS and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were 9,800 fireworks injuries that required emergency room treatment for just July 4th, 2007. Don’t let yourself become a statistic; think carefully about fireworks safety. The finger that you save might be the very one you use for “signaling” while driving to work. (http://www.fireworkssafety.com/injuries07.pdf)
Chris has more than 20 years of professional-safety experience. As the marketing manager for DuPont’s environmental and safety services, he has seen firsthand the safety challenges faced by plant personnel while working with more than 600 chemical, petrochemical and manufacturing facilities. Chris is an award-winning international safety speaker and author. Contact Chris here if you have any questions or suggestions.
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