Centerton Neighborhood Watch

Firework Safety pub. 2007 - National Council on Firework Safety

Know Your Fireworks

Consumers Warned of Illegal Explosives and Urged to Follow
Consumer Fireworks Safety Tips
Everyone enjoys fireworks, particularly in the festive Fourth of July season. But
some fireworks can be dangerous. The National Council on Fireworks Safety
recommends that you only buy consumer fireworks from a licensed store or stand.
Never buy fireworks from an individual’s house, or from someone on the street.
Such fireworks are likely to be illegal explosives that can seriously injure you.
Consumer fireworks regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission are
packaged in bright colors and have safety warnings on the packaging. The
packaging sets forth the country of origin, which is normally China. Typical
consumer fireworks include fountains, cones, sparklers, fire crackers, bottle rockets
and multiple tube products.
Illegal explosives are often unpackaged and are wrapped with plain brown paper.
They are very unlikely to have any safety warnings, or place of manufacture. Many
of them are hand made in basements or illicit factories. They go by names such as
M80, Quarter Stick or Cherry Bomb. If someone approaches you to sell one of
these illegal explosives, politely decline and then call your local police department.
Consumer fireworks, if used in accordance with their instructions, are very safe.
Injuries from consumer fireworks have shown a dramatic decrease over the past
twenty years, despite an astonishing increase in usage by consumers. Some form of
consumer fireworks are now allowed in 45 states, Puerto Rico and the District of
Columbia. In 2006, over 250 million pounds of consumer fireworks entered this
country from China, an all time high.

Other Safety Tips urged by National Council on Firework Safety

The National Council urges consumers to follow these other important safety tips:
• Only use fireworks outdoors.
• Obey all local laws regarding the use of fireworks.
• Children under age 16 should only use fireworks with ADULT
SUPERVISION.
• Always have a bucket of water, or water hose, nearby.
• Alcohol and fireworks do not mix!
• Parents should pay special attention to children using sparkers. Sparklers
reach temperatures up to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. Children should not
touch the lit portion of sparklers, throw them or play games with them.
Sparklers can be dangerous, if used improperly.
“Many times consumers don’t prepare for the evening’s fireworks display” says
Ralph Apel, President of the National Council on Fireworks Safety. “The
designated shooter should prepare a shooting area, assess how many people will be
watching the display and lay out a spectator area that is far enough away from the
shooting site. The shooter should carefully read the label of each firework and
understand exactly what it will do. Preplanning makes for a safe and fun backyard
fireworks display.”

Enjoy celebrating the heritage of our great country with fireworks, but
KNOW YOUR FIREWORKS!

How to Contact The National Council on Firework Safety

All of the National Council’s safety tips are reviewed in its new seven minute safety
video, available for purchase by calling 202 349 7127.

Email us
getinfo@fireworksafety.com

Links

National Council on Firework Safety Web Site