Fireworks Safety for this Independence Day

Mobility Forum, Jul/Aug 2005 by York, David

"And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air"...

This well-known line from our beloved StarSpangled Banner is a sight seen every year on July fourth when we celebrate our nation's independence. Although not typically thought of as "rockets" and "bombs," fireworks are exactly that. Unfortunately, fireworks are sometimes not given the respect deserving of rockets and bombs. Every year there are thousands of incidents involving fireworks and more often than not, persons involved in these incidents end up injured, hospitalized or even killed. To understand the hazard of fireworks, let's begin with a quick overview of them.

Crude fireworks originally debated in China in the 9th century. The Chinese continued to expand these crude fireworks to higher stages of development. Initially, fireworks were just gunpowder roughly fashioned to produce light and sound. Centuries later our modern fireworks have become a complex, technical combination of combustibles and explosives that are engineered to dazzle us with an array of colors, a variety of sounds and a feeling of awe. As we watch these nighttime displays we often forget exactly how dangerous these fireworks are.

As we observe the magnificent sights and sounds of fireworks in the night sky, we dismiss the fact that these fireworks are created with extremely hazardous materials. One such material is gunpowder. Gunpowder is used in a wide range of civilian and military applications; from blasting mines and demolishing old buildings, to actually building rockets and bombs. Any use of such a powerful substance presents its share of danger, and especially in the case of fireworks as they are more or less considered novelty items.

These "novelty items" were responsible for 4 deaths (two at professional displays) and up to 8,800 firework related trips to emergency rooms in one recent year, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). About half of the injuries occurred to children under the age of 15. The parts of the body most commonly injured were the hands, eyes and head/face/ear region, respectively.

A large number of these injuries and even fatalities could have been avoided if simple precautionary measures had been taken, manufacturers' instructions were followed, situational awareness was maintained and emergency procedures were in place. Doing these four things gives you the basic equation for Operational Risk Management (ORM). We all use or have used ORM in one way, shape or form; don't hesitate to use it with fireworks. Some basic precautionary measures include, but are not limited to:

* Always read, follow and understand label directions.

* Never leave children alone with any type of fireworks (adult supervision is always required).

* Always ignite fireworks in a safe location away from buildings, vehicles or other hazardous/combustible items.

* Light fireworks one at a time.

* Wear eye protection when lighting fireworks.

* Do not experiment with or attempt to create your own fireworks.

* Store fireworks in a cool, dry place until ready to use.

* Never try to re-ignite malfunctioning fireworks.

* Have a source of water available.

It is also important to avoid purchasing illegal fireworks. Ann Crampton from the National Council on Fireworks Safety states, "Illegal devices include cherry bombs, silver salutes and M80s, all of which have been federally banned since 1966 because of the large amounts of explosive material they contain. Legal fireworks conform to federal standards. Illegal ones do not."

So how can you tell if you have legal fireworks? The CPSC requires that legal fireworks show the name of the item, the name of the manufacturer and easy-to-read cautionary labeling and instructions for proper use. Ensure the fireworks that you have meet all of these requirements. However, there are other requirements such as rules and laws that must be considered.

One such requirement is that the Air Force prohibits military personnel and their families from using fireworks on base. The Air Force also prohibits personnel on or off duty from taking part in the transportation, storage, setup or functioning of commercial fireworks for on-base displays. There are also state laws that dictate the legality and use of fireworks for their respective state. Each state has different laws on this subject that you should be aware of. It is wise to check local (county, city or town) laws as well before engaging in any fireworks activities.

Although it seems as though there may be too many restrictions on fireworks, each one is put in place to protect you, your family and your community. Keep in mind that fireworks are indeed "rockets" and "bombs" and should be respected as such. This Independence Day, enjoy yourself, experience the beauty of fireworks lighting the evening sky, and remember to keep firework safety a part of your celebration.

To access additional information on fireworks safety via the internet, check out: www.cpsc.gov or www.fireworksafety.com.

By TSgt David York, HQ AMC/SEW