Complain about a product or service

Feds Demonstrate Firework Dangers

Firework injuries on the rise; victims are often children

By Joseph S. Enoch
ConsumerAffairs.com

June 25, 2008

A mannequin is "decapitated" by a professional-grade firework A homemade firework destroys a small shed Two mannequins illustrate the danger of sparklers

The Consumer Product Safety Commission demonstrated today on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., how dangerous fireworks can be if they are illegal or if legal ones are improperly handled.

“No one should go from a backyard celebration to the emergency room with firework related injuries,” said CPSC Acting Chairwoman Nancy Nord, “Using only legal fireworks and using them correctly is an important step towards celebrating safely.”

Along with the demonstration came a new report from the safety agency that shows that firework-related injuries are on the rise. There were an estimated 9,800 fireworks-related injuries resulting in hospitalization in 2007 compared to 9,200 in 2006, according to the report. Of those injuries last year, 64 percent took place between June 22 and July 22.

There were 11 fireworks-related deaths in both 2007 and 2006.

Many of the more serious injuries each year are the result of consumers igniting illegal fireworks or professional-grade fireworks intended for large displays, said CPSC spokeswoman Julie Vallese.

Consumers should look for bright colors and warning labels because many illegal and professional-grade fireworks are painted in a single dark color and have no warnings, Vallese said.

“If you have to buy them from someone's back door, they're probably illegal,” Vallese said.

Three of the most common illegal fireworks are cherry bombs, M-80s and M-1000s. “They're not even fireworks,” Vallese said. “They're just explosives.”

During the presentation, M-80s loudly disintegrated cantaloupes. M-1000s, which are larger and more powerful than M-80s, sent pieces of two watermelons flying more than 20 feet into the air while sending a shock wave that set off car alarms around the Mall.

A professional-grade firework completely decapitated a mannequin while an illegal home-built firework shot a mannequin into the air while leveling the shelter the CPSC built around it.

Despite the dangers of fireworks that can destroy buildings in one explosion, sparklers injure the most consumers at 1,100 in 2007 followed by firecrackers and rockets, according to the report.

More than half of all injuries are burns while the most injured body parts are hands.

A watermelon is blown apart by a firework.

The CPSC recommends consumers follow these safety measures when igniting fireworks:

• Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.

• Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.

• Avoid buying fireworks that come in brown paper packaging, as this can often be a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and could pose a danger to consumers.

• Adults should always supervise fireworks activities. Parents often don’t realize that there are many injuries from sparklers to children under five. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees – hot enough to melt some metals.

• Never have any portion of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Move back a safe distance immediately after lighting.

• Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not fully functioned.

• Never point or throw fireworks at another person.

• Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.

• Light one item at a time, then move back quickly.

• Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.

• After fireworks fully complete their functioning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding to prevent a trash fire.

Photos by Joe Enoch

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.