Fire House Facts - Fireworks is Fire Play

Fire House Facts - Fireworks is Fire Play

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Published on Tuesday, 26 June 2012 09:25

Written by Yuma News Now

Yuma, Arizona - According to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) research, every Fourth of July, thousands of people (most often children and teens) are injured while using consumer fireworks. Despite the dangers of fireworks, few people understand the associated risks - devastating burns, other injuries, fires, and even death.

There are far more U.S. fires reported on a typical Independence Day than on any other day of the year, and fireworks account for 2 out of 5 of those fires (more than any other cause of fires.) In 2010, fireworks caused an estimated 15,500 reported fires, including 1,100 structure fires, 300 vehicle fires, and 14,100 outside and other fires. These fires resulted in an estimated $38 million in direct property damage.

US hospital emergency rooms treated more than 8,600 people for fireworks related injuries in 2010 and one third of those injuries involved fireworks that Federal/State regulations permit consumers to use. Children 5 to 14 years old are most at risk for injuries (more than twice the risk for the general population). Even those sold as “safe and sane” fireworks (meaning, they don’t blow up or fly), like sparklers, reach temperatures of over 1000 degrees.  More than half of all fireworks injuries are from burns.

Most fireworks are still illegal in the state of Arizona, but with statistics like these, do you really need a law to convince you or your children not to use fireworks? Yuma has several professional fireworks displays planned. Have a happy and safe 4^th of July and don’t play with illegal fireworks. It’s the law, and the safe thing to do.

And even where legal, "Fireworks is Fire play!"

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