Remember Kids, Safety First
“The day will be most memorable in the history of America, I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade…bonfires and illuminations (fireworks)…from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore.”
~John Adams (The day before the signing of the Declaration of Independence July 3, 1776)
As we sit on the cusp of celebrating yet another birthday for the United States, I eagerly look forward to the traditional aerial display of colors in all their sparkling splendor and their thunderous booms. I’m talking about fireworks of course and I adore the multitudes of rockets that deliver into the air the wondrous variety of visual stimulation that continues to fill my children and I with a sense of energy and awe every year. Despite the turbulent political times we live in, it is important to understand what our founding citizens framed almost 250 years ago for future generations like ourselves. The experiment that is our government, though not perfect, has allowed our country to flourish over the past 241 years. So, I encourage you to step out this Fourth of July, raise a cup, maybe set off a firecracker or two and celebrate America’s birthday. I also encourage you to celebrate safely.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that the 2015 Fourth of July was the most injury filled celebration of Independence Day since the year 2000. 2015 saw the death of eleven people and almost 12,000 emergency room visits due to accidents involving the misuse and mishandling of fireworks. According to the report, hands and fingers were the most-injured body parts (about 4,000 people); followed by head, face and ears (about 3,000 people); eyes (nearly 2,000), followed by legs and arms. I haven’t found the numbers for 2016 yet but they are expected to be about the same if not a little higher than 2015. Teenagers between the age of 15 and 19 years of age had the highest rate of injury followed by children between the ages of 5-9. Given the data, one could extrapolate that youth and pyrotechnics do not mix well. The American Pyrotechnics Association, a fireworks-industry trade group, follows information such as the report by the CPSC. The APA also tracks the number of injuries in a given year but they do so based per 100,000 pounds of fireworks sold in the U.S. Their finding was that the ratio of injuries per 100,000 pounds of fireworks sold has stayed constant at about 4.1 injuries per 100,000 pounds in 2015 as well as in years past. As more and more states relax laws surrounding fireworks, the purchase and consumption of fireworks have, if you’ll pardon the pun, skyrocketed which has contributed to the larger numbers of individuals getting hurt despite the ratio staying about the same.
The message that is being presented by all parties concerned is safety first. Most non-profit groups like Prevent Blindness encourage people to forgo fireworks all together and leave the firework displays to the professionals and for the most part, that is the safest and least expensive option. If, however, you are determined to set off your own display for family or friends, please use common sense and practice the best safety standards first and foremost. The APA states that the most common reasons for injuries is blatant misuse of fireworks to mimic stunts as seen on social media and venues like YouTube. The American Pyrotechnics Association strongly discourages mimicking people who misuse fireworks as just because an ill-advised usage worked once, it may very well blow up in one’s face the next time. There is no substitution for safety. Fireworks are dangerous and they should be given the respect that dangerous objects require and demand. A nine-year-old should not be given a bag of fireworks and a lighter and told to go have a good time, that is a recipe for disaster and a trip to the hospital.
I hope that everyone has an enjoyable holiday weekend celebrating all the things worth celebrating but while doing it, be safe. I ask you to think about what your favorite part of the Fourth of July is and why. We live in a great land, warts and all, and above all I have hope in this nation of ours just as our founders did all those years ago and I hope you do too. Take care of yourself and each other, remember, we’re all in this together.
Wm Reid
Best Home Care Services
325 N Eastern Ave
Connersville, IN 47331
765-827-9833
wmreid@bhcshealth.com