Fireworks Safety

Staying in Phoenix for the Fourth of July weekend? There's a lot to do around town - click here for information about different events starting on Friday, July 2, 2010.  However, please leave fireworks for the professionals.

A new U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission study on 2009 firework injuries indicates that 2 people died and over 9,000 people visited the emergency room from firework related injuries. Most firework injuries occurred to those younger than 20 and resulted in the loss of a limb.  This is up from 7,000 firework injuries in 2008.   Burns from fireworks are not only painful but can also leave disfiguring scars, and can cause disabling injury or even death. 

Fireworks are currently banned by a City of Phoenix ordinance. 

If you or a loved one has been hurt in a fireworks incident, please contact Plattner Verderame, P.C. for assistance.

The Arizona State Legislature passed - and Governor Jan Brewer signed - a new bill that will allow the sale and use of handheld fireworks for people 16 and older.  The bill does not go into effect until after this July Fourth holiday.  Fireworks are still illegal, except for professionals with special permits.  

In any event, fireworks are very dangerous.

The U.S. CSPC recommends the following steps be to use fireworks safely:
Consumers who decide to purchase legal fireworks are encouraged to take the following safety steps:

• 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 to 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.

Phoenix Fire Department

The Fourth of July traditionally presents the biggest fire danger to citizens and is the cause of a great number of fires and burn injuries due to fireworks. Fireworks include devices which make a visible or audible effect when set off and the Phoenix ordinance specifically outlaws possession and use of sparklers, skyrockets and firecrackers. Paper caps such as those used in a toy cap pistol, which contain 25-hundredths of a grain of explosive content per cap, are the only items allowed under the ordinance unless the user has a permit from the Phoenix Fire Department. Snap caps have been declared in violation of State Law.

The Phoenix Fire Department responds to more fires on the 4th of July than any other day of the year. Most occur in dry brush and grass, but several homes are usually destroyed or damaged on this holiday. Fires are caused by careless handling of fireworks in areas exposed to sparks or live fireworks.

Nationally, more than $36 million in property is damaged each year due to fireworks.
The Fourth of July also is responsible for many burn injuries associated with premature detonation or misuse of fireworks. The Maricopa County Burn Unit reports the most burn injuries on the Fourth of July.   And these are only the fireworks injuries reported to hospital emergency rooms. Because many injuries are not treated in emergency rooms, experts believe the total number of fireworks injuries may be far higher.