Fireworks Safety

For most Americans, the 4th 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.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 64% of these injuries occurred during the one month period surrounding the July 4th 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 hands (2,000 injuries), eyes (1,400 injuries) and legs (1,200 injuries).

To reduce injuries, CPSC recommends these fireworks safety tips:

· Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.

· Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.

· Avoid buying fireworks that come in brown paper packaging, as this can be a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and could pose a danger to consumers.

· 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.

· Um, never have any portion of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. (makes sense to me). Move back a safe distance immediately after lighting. (kids...not everything you see on YouTube is cool!)

· Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not fully detonated.

· Never point or throw fireworks at another person.

· Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire.

· Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.

Ok, ok, that's a lot of Don'ts, but it's very important to be safe. Fireworks, even the small boxes you buy from the big box stores (Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Shopko etc) can be just as dangerous.

Have your 4th of July fun, but be safe! I need you back here Monday afternoon listening. If I loose anymore listeners, the show will be in the ratings tank worse than it already is! HA!

Oh...and be sure to save a brat on the grill for me!