Thursday, July 02, 2009
Beware the rockets' red glare
Even the quietest of fireworks can cause serious injury if you're not careful.
JUSTIN COOK The Roanoke Times
Greg Taylor, youth pastor of Victory Restoration Center, sells fireworks as a fundraiser for the church in the parking lot of Wal-Mart in Christiansburg.
Where to see the big fireworks at dusk
- New River Valley Fairgrounds, Virginia 100, Dublin
- New River Valley Speedway, U.S. 11, Fairlawn
- Bisset Park, off East Main Street, Radford
- Christiansburg High School football field, Independence Boulevard, Christiansburg
- Municipal Park, Patrick Henry Drive, Blacksburg For a complete list of Fourth of July events, see the calendar pages.
Did you know?
- 56 percent of fireworks-related injuries seen in emergency rooms nationwide in 2007 were to the extremities and 36 percent were to the head
- 49 percent of fireworks injuries were burns; 29 percent were contusions and lacerations
- Two of every five people injured by fireworks were younger than 15
- The risk of fireworks injury was two and a half times as high for children 5 to 14 as for the general population.
- Sparklers, fountains and novelties alone accounted for 56 of the fireworks injuries
Source: U.S. Fire Administration
CHRISTIANSBURG -- The sign is simple: "Fireworks on sale here!"
As the Fourth of July holiday weekend nears, signs and booths are springing up, announcing sales of what for many is a favorite holiday diversion -- fireworks.
But along with fun, experts say safety should be on everyone's minds.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, hospital emergency rooms across the country treated an estimated 9,800 people for fireworks-related injuries in 2007.
"In Virginia, you're limited on what you can and can't buy," said Rodney Haywood, Radford's assistant fire chief.
Sparklers, fountains and novelty items that do not explode and do not fly through the air are legal in Virginia.
Fireworks that do -- such as firecrackers, Roman candles, and rockets, including bottle rockets, and mortars -- are illegal for nonprofessional use.
But even the quietest of fireworks can be dangerous.
The tips of sparklers can heat up to more than 1,200 degrees, Haywood said.
"That's the biggest thing people don't realize," he said. "People hand them over to little kids, like 3- and 4-year-olds, and don't realize how hot that tip is getting."
Even selling fireworks involves safety training, said Greg Taylor, youth pastor of Victory Restoration Center in Christiansburg.
The church has been selling fireworks for nine years as a fundraiser under a tent in the parking lot of Wal-Mart in Christiansburg.
In recent years, safety measures such as longer and glow-in-the-dark fuses have become standard in the products sold in the weeks before the Fourth of July, Taylor said.
The tent also has to be manned 24 hours a day to ensure safety and prevent theft, he said.
And humans aren't the only ones at risk during the holiday. The American Kennel Club has reminders for pet owners as well.
It is safer to keep your pets at home during Fourth of July celebrations instead of bringing them to your neighbor's party, according to a news release from the organization. Keep your pets in the house, rather than in your yard. They will be a lot happier indoors and not tempted to leap over a fence to find you.
Dogs can be startled by the sound of fireworks. Once the festivities begin, keep your pet in a safe room where it can feel comfortable. Put your dog in its crate and cover it with a blanket to add some extra security.
Block outside sights and sounds by lowering the blinds and turning on the television. Play soothing music in the background.
If your pets seems overly anxious, spend some time with them, speaking soothingly to help them relax.
