Fireworks PSA since the Fourth of July is around the corner
For my American followers celebrating Independence Day tomorrow, here’s a few facts about your beloved Fourth of July fireworks:
- On Independence Day, fireworks cause approximately 4,370 fires every year, making up about 28% of the year’s fireworks-related fires.
- On Independence Day and the few days preceding and following it, fireworks cause about 7,600 injuries every year, making up about 68% of the year’s fireworks-related injuries.
- Most fireworks burn at the same temperature as a blowtorch. Think about how dangerous that is.
- About 36-58% of fireworks related injuries cause serious injuries to the hands, often times resulting in amputations of one or several fingers.
- Around 12-20% of fireworks-related injuries cause damage to the eyes, requiring surgery in 28% of cases and resulting in blindness in 10% of cases.
- Approximately 4% of fireworks victims suffer from partial hearing loss or sometimes complete deafness.
- About 70% of fireworks injuries result in 2nd, 3rd, and higher degree burns.
- While we’ve already discussed injuries to the hands, eyes, and ears, injuries often occur in other places such as the face, head, arms, torso, groin, legs, etc.
Here’s some tips on keeping you and your family safe while enjoying fireworks:
- For optimum safety, never use consumer fireworks. Go to professionally done fireworks shows.
- Always keep a cautious eye if you’re anywhere where fireworks are being set off, even professional shows. Never get too close to firework launch sites. If applicable, keep a close eye on your kids.
- DON’T👏GIVE👏SPARKLERS👏TO👏YOUR👏KIDS! They burn at an average of 1200°F/650°F and are every bit as dangerous as regular fireworks. Most of the fireworks injuries inflicted on children are the direct result of sparklers.
- If you’re absolutely DYING to use consumer fireworks, take all possible safety measures to insure a safe enjoyment.
- Make sure you set off your fireworks properly and NEVER HOLD LIT FIREWORKS IN YOUR HAND OR PUT THEM ANYWHERE ELSE ON YOUR BODY.
- Don’t light fireworks too close to other people.
- Always weigh down your fireworks to prevent a tip over.
- Always check to make sure that your fireworks have all of their necessary parts and make sure that it doesn’t have a short fuse.
- NEVER MAKE YOUR OWN FIREWORKS AND NEVER USE HOMEMADE FIREWORKS!
- NEVER USE ILLEGAL FIREWORKS! THEY ARE ILLEGAL FOR A REASON!
- Be considerate of your neighbors if you are lighting fireworks in your neighborhood. Don’t light your fireworks too close to your neighbors’ houses and be courteous if any of your neighbors have objections. If in doubt, contact your neighborhood association or your HOA, if applicable.
- If the use of fireworks is illegal in your area, don’t use them.
- Use fireworks for their intended purpose. Don’t be a dick.
This also goes for my non-American followers and their holidays that often use fireworks.
Anyway, be safe guys! Happy 241st anniversary to this terrible country!
Sources that may contain some disturbing material: Link (This one’s in Dutch, but there’s an English translation in the comments) Link
