Du Quoin Fire Department offers safety tips with fireworks

DU QUOIN - The Du Quoin Fire Department is asking residents to practice fireworks safety this weekend and next week. With July 4 fast approaching, so do the dangers of fire and injuries from fireworks. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "the risk of fireworks-related injuries increases dramatically in the weeks surrounding Independence Day. Each year, approximately 8,500 Americans suffer firework-related injuries. Nearly half of those injured are children."

More fires are reported on July 4 than any other day of the year. On a typical Fourth of July, fireworks account for two out of five of all reported fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Each year, fireworks cause on average 1,300 structure fires, 300 vehicle fires and nearly 17,000 other fires resulting in thousands of injuries.

The National Safety Council advises everyone to stay away from all consumer fireworks and to only enjoy fireworks at a public display conducted by professionals.

Following are some fireworks that are legal for consumers to purchase and use in some states. But just because they are legal doesn't mean they're safe.

• Sparklers can be found along parade routes and at festivals with sparklers in the hands of young children, but they are a lot more dangerous than most people think. Parents don't realize they burn at about 2,000 degrees - hot enough to melt some metals. Sparklers can quickly ignite clothing, and many children have received severe burns from dropping sparklers on their feet.

• Bottle Rockets are attached to a stick, lit by a fuse and typically fired from a bottle. Teens have been known to have bottle rocket wars, firing them at one another and causing chest, head and eye injuries. Physicians at Vanderbilt Eye Institute at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have seen so many eye injuries caused by bottle rockets they conducted a study they hope will lead to better education and "legislative enhancements" on fireworks safety.

"The majority of the children (in the study) ended up with reduced vision, and probably half of those were deemed legally blind," said Dr. Franco Recchia, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at Vanderbilt.

• Firecrackers are designed to explode on the ground. They are often linked together by one long fuse and explode in a series. They are designed to be very noisy, but they also can cause burns and other serious injuries.

• Roman Candles eject multiple exploding shells from a tube the user holds in his or her hand. There have been numerous reports of children losing fingers, severe burns and other injuries, which are sometimes caused when the device gets jammed.

Recommended safety tips for M-class fireworks include the following:

• Obey all local laws regarding the use of fireworks.

• Know your fireworks; read the cautionary labels and performance descriptions before igniting.

• A responsible adult SHOULD supervise all firework activities. Never give fireworks to children.

• Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. Save your alcohol for after the show.

• Wear safety glasses when shooting fireworks.

• Light one firework at a time and then quickly move away.

• Use fireworks OUTDOORS in a clear area; away from buildings and vehicles.

• Never relight a "dud" firework. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.

• Always have a bucket of water and charged water hose nearby.

• Never carry fireworks in your POCKET or shoot them into METAL or GLASS containers.

• Do not experiment with homemade fireworks.

• Dispose of spent fireworks by wetting them down and place in a metal trash can away from any building or combustible materials until the next day.

• FAA regulations PROHIBIT the possession and transportation of fireworks in your checked baggage or carry-on luggage.

• Report illegal explosives, like M-80s and quarter sticks, to the fire or police department.

And let's not forget the safety of our pets!

• Don't bring your pets to a fireworks display, even a small one.

• If fireworks are being used near your home, put your pet in a safe, interior room to avoid exposure to the sound.

• Make sure your pet has an identification tag, in case it runs off during a fireworks display.

• Never shoot fireworks of any kind (consumer fireworks, sparklers, fountains, etc.) near pets.