KDHE Home - News 1999 - News Release
Kansas
Department of Health & Environment
Bill Graves, Governor
Clyde D. Graeber, Secretary
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jan Stegelman, 785-296-1223
Putting Some Safety In Your Sparkle
Bright and colorful fireworks displays are to the Fourth of July and the summer months what hot dogs are to baseball. Many families enjoy the tradition of going to their favorite fireworks display or holding their own fireworks show. Whether these events take place at the community park or in the privacy of your own backyard, they often result in serious injuries to children. In fact, children ages 10 to 14 suffer from fireworks-related injuries more than any other age group.
"Children are often attracted to the bright colors of fireworks but don't understand their dangers, which can lead to tragic and painful consequences," says Jan Stegelman, coordinator of the Kansas SAFE KIDS Coalition. "It is important to educate children on the dangers of fireworks and emphasize that only adults should handle them."
In 1996, nearly 3,000 children ages 14 and under were treated in hospital emergency rooms for fireworks related injuries. Seventy-five percent of these injuries occur during the month surrounding the Fourth of July. Sparklers, often considered the safest type of fireworks, frequently cause injury among children ages 4 and under.
Many parents and caregivers overestimate their children's ability to use fireworks, creating a dangerous environment for injuries. Fireworks-related injuries usually involve the hands/fingers, eyes or head and can sometimes result in amputations, blindings or even death. More than half of injuries due to fireworks involve burns.
"Fourth of July festivities can turn tragic when fireworks end up in the wrong hands," said Martin R. Eichelberger, M.D., president of the National SAFE KIDS Campaign and director of the burn unit at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. "A burn is one of the most painful injuries for children and tends to be more severe because they have thinner skin than an adult."
Consumer fireworks are legal for public sale in 32 states, including Kansas, and the District of Columbia. They include fountains, "bottle rockets," Roman candles, rockets with sticks, mines and shells, helicopter-type rockets, sparklers, party poppers, missile-type rockets, illuminating torches, toy smoke devices, revolving wheels and firecrackers with no more than 50 milligrams of powder.
The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission adopted a standard, effective March 1997, to eliminate the deadly tip-over hazard in large multiple-tube fireworks. This standard requires all domestic manufacturers of these multiple-tube devices to develop a new, safer base.
Fireworks that have been banned from public sale by the CPSC include firecrackers containing more than 50 milligrams of powder, cherry bombs, M-80 salutes, large reloadable shells, aerial bombs and larger firecrackers containing more than two grains of powder. Mail-order kits designed to create these fireworks are also banned.
Homemade or illegal fireworks are extremely dangerous and should never be used by your family. Fireworks legally available for sale to the public also can be harmful if not used properly, and they should never be treated as toys. If using fireworks, please remember to follow fireworks laws in your area, practice extreme caution and remember these vital safety guidelines recommended by the Kansas SAFE KIDS Coalition:
· Only adults should handle fireworks. Tell children that they should leave the area immediately if their friends are using fireworks and keep a bucket of water handy.
· Discuss safety procedures with your children. Teach children to "stop, drop and roll" if their clothes catch fire. Make sure they know how to call 9-1-1. Show them how to put out fireworks by using water or a fire extinguisher.
· Read labels and carefully follow directions. All fireworks must carry a warning label describing necessary safety precautions.
· Never use fireworks indoors.
· Be sure spectators are out of range before lighting fireworks.
· Never aim or throw fireworks at another person.
· Never place your face or any other body part over fireworks.
· Never try to re-ignite fireworks that malfunction.
· Never carry fireworks in your pocket.
· Only light fireworks on a smooth, flat surface away from the house, dry leaves and flammable materials.
The Kansas SAFE KIDS Coalition recommends families enjoy the dazzle of fireworks at a community-sanctioned, licensed event. Many communities hold fireworks displays sponsored by the fire department or other safety agencies.
Following these important guidelines can help keep your fireworks activities enjoyable and safe. Don't let dangerous sparks stand between your family and a wonderful Fourth of July celebration.
The Kansas SAFE KIDS Coalition, Inc. is a nonprofit group of 67 statewide organizations and businesses that have joined to protect Kansas children from unintentional injury -- the leading killer of Kansas kids. Local coalitions and chapters are located in Wichita, Johnson County, Lawrence, Salina, Barber County, Topeka, Ford County, Manhattan, Hutchinson, Pottawatomie County, Clay County, and Osage County. Kansas SAFE KIDS is part of the National SAFE KIDS Campaign.
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