On the Fourth
of July and other celebrations that occasion the use of
fireworks, we all need to ensure fireworks safety.
Between 2000
and 2006, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
reported that 49 people were killed nationwide while using
fireworks. In Michigan, the deadly nature of fireworks struck
close to home on July 4, 2007, when a Melvindale mother of three
was killed after being struck by a commercial-grade firework.
In 2007, there were 10,800 people injured by fireworks in the
U.S., with children under the age of 15 accounting for one-third
of those injuries. A CPSC study found that firecrackers,
rockets, and sparklers caused the bulk of emergency room-treated
injuries. Sparklers can burn at temperatures exceeding 1200
degrees Fahrenheit!
