The Fourth of July is one of America’s favorite holidays. The day is most often celebrated with backyard cookouts, children swimming in swimming pools, and of course, fireworks. While watching fireworks light up the sky can be a delightful experience for children and adults alike, fireworks can also present serious risks. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that last year’s Independence Day celebrations resulted in approximately 9,100 fireworks-related injuries which required emergency room treatment. Sadly, the USCPC also reports that five individuals lost their lives due to fireworks incidents in 2018. There are several ways you and your loved ones can enjoy an injury-free Independence Day celebration this year, including making sure that the fireworks you plan to enjoy are safe and free of any defects.
Fireworks Which Have Been Recalled Should Not Be Ignited or Kept
Nearly 38,000 fireworks sold in the United States which contained inaccurate levels of pyrotechnic material have been recalled. The fireworks were recalled because the defect cause an explosion much greater than what the firework is intended to produce. This defect puts consumers at risk for serious injuries—especially burns. For a complete list of the recalled fireworks, see the CPSC website. If you currently have any of the recalled fireworks, it is very important that you do not use them.
The CPSC also implores the public to follow safe firework handling procedures this Fourth of July. This includes only using legal fireworks sold by reputable sources, never pointing a firework at a person or crowd, moving away from fireworks immediately after they are ignited, and keeping a bucket of water around in case of an emergency.
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