Nothing complements a nice celebration like a good fireworks display, but faulty devices, user error, and a total ignorance of local safety rules can quickly turn the special occasion into a disaster. Here are the most common fireworks safety mistakes people make despite the potentially disastrous consequences.
Using Dangerous Fireworks
Some of the most dangerous fireworks one could use are firecrackers, bottle rockets, multiple tube fireworks, and reloadable aerial shells. Some people add sparklers to that list, but as long as they are handled by children only under strict adult supervision, the risks are considerably low.
All or some of these fireworks have been banned in some states and for several good reasons. If mishandled they can cause severe burns, serious eyesight damage, and partial or full amputation of one’s limbs. Not to mention that they are a serious fire hazard as a fire can easily start from a fireworks display gone wrong.
The most dangerous fireworks are those with a small fuse that explode quickly such as firecrackers. It is estimated that these apparently harmless pyrotechnic devices land 1,000 people in the E.R. every year. The most dangerous ones are those strung together in bunches of 16. In the U.S., bundled models are limited to 50 mg of explosive content. But illegal firecrackers go well beyond that.
A surefire to tell whether a firecracker is legal or not is the absence of safety warnings and labels. Illegal items usually don’t come with any of these.
Bottle rockets are risky too. They may seem safer than firecrackers because they are attached to a thin stick, but if mishandled they can whizz toward an innocent bystander and cause them serious injuries. Two hundred people need medical attention every year after being harmed by a bottle rocket.
Reloadable aerial shells can put up quite a show on big celebration days, but they are quite hazardous too. If mishandled, the firework can explode in the tube and cause fatal injuries to all nearby onlookers. Also make sure that you always launch these types of fireworks from the ground instead of from your hand. The same goes for the equally spectacular multiple tube fireworks. It is a reason some states have banned these devices altogether.
Giving Small Children Access to Fireworks
Letting young children handle fireworks without adult supervision is a recipe for disaster. Even the most innocent fireworks such as sparklers could injure a small child. It is estimated that sparklers cause around 500 injuries every year, more than half of the injured patients were toddlers under age 5. Sparklers are so hazardous because they can burn at 1,800 degrees F, which is the melting point for some metals.
Ignoring Fire Restrictions
If there is a fire restriction sign nearby, it is usually there for a good reason. It may be because the vegetation can be easily set on fire due to an unusually dry season. During total fire bans, it takes a small spark to cause a forest fire. Don’t take any chances with fireworks when fire restrictions are in place.
Playing with Fireworks
While sparklers, bottle rockets, and Roman candles may seem inoffensive, don’t point them at people, property, or animals. Fireworks can and will malfunction potentially causing severe burns or eye damage. For instance, a malfunctioning Roman candle prematurely exploded in an 8-year-old boy’s face leaving him blind in one eye after a neighbor pointed the device at him.
Breaking Local Fireworks Laws
Ignoring local fireworks laws can not only lead to severe injuries and uncontrolled bushfires, but it could also bring the police knocking on your door. Depending on your home state’s laws, you could face jail time, a hefty fine, or both for putting on an illegal fireworks display. Also, make sure that you find out more about local fireworks laws before buying when you are not in your state… unless you want a group of angry LEOs breaking up your party.
In Conclusion
Even low order explosive devices like fireworks can easily turn into serious fire or health hazards if they’re defective, illegal, or land into the wrong hands. If your celebration does have them on the menu, avoid making these common mistakes for a night to remember but only for the good reasons.
