SLATES:

CPSC Warns of Fireworks Dangers

Demonstrations Show Potential for Injury and Death

This tape is sponsored by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
For more information contact Nychelle Fleming or Kim Dulic
CPSC (301) 504-7800

BACKGROUND

WASHINGTON, D.C. - For most Americans, the Fourth of July celebration is a time for food, fun and fireworks, but in 2007 nearly 10,000 Americans were treated in emergency rooms for firework-related injuries. Today on the National Mall, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reported that 64 percent of these injuries occurred during the one month period surrounding the July 4th holiday.

A review of these injuries shows that burns were the most common, accounting for more than half of the incidents. The parts of the body most often injured were hands (estimated 2,000 injuries), eyes (1,400 injuries) and legs (1,200 injuries). Over the last 10 years, there has been an upward trend in injuries. Eleven deaths were reported in 2007, the same number as the previous year.

CPSC is working to keep American families safe by educating the public about the risk of injury associated with fireworks, enforcing fireworks regulations and by prosecuting dealers and distributors who manufacture and sell illegal explosives. As a part of its fireworks enforcement program, CPSC actively works with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to investigate roadside stands, warehouses and retail stores that sell professional grade explosives to consumers, and homes that serve as havens for the manufacture of dangerous fireworks devices.

These investigations have resulted in dozens of successful prosecutions by the Justice Department’s Office of Consumer Litigation and U.S. Attorney offices across the country. At the ports, CPSC is working alongside Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to ensure shipments are in compliance with the federal regulations. With CBP assistance, CPSC staff selectively sampled and tested over 400 shipments of fireworks last year. Of these 46 percent were found to contain illegal fireworks.

SOUNDBITES

Nancy Nord, Acting Chairman
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
(Spanish soundbites at end)

Acting Chairman Nancy Nord: "The first step is to use only legal fireworks and to use them correctly. It's the misuse of legal fireworks or the use of illegal fireworks that can turn a day of celebration into a tragedy."

Acting Chairman Nancy Nord: "Consumers should always use caution when handling fireworks and remember how explosive they can be. Consumers should never use professional fireworks. In fact, if you are not a licensed professional, it's a felony to purchase or receive into your posession commercial-grade fireworks. For your safety in so many ways, leave professional fireworks to the professionals."

Acting Chairman Nancy Nord: "Our goal here is to keep you out of the hospital emergency room, so that you can celebrate the holiday safely with your family and friends. All these demonstrations carry a simple, serious message: Don't misuse fireworks, don't use illegal explosives, and leave the professional fireworks to the professionals. Enjoy your Fourth of July holiday, but please do it safely."

DEMONSTRATIONS:

Baby Dolls with Sparklers (legal in some states)

Cantaloupe with m-80 in hand (illegal)

Watermelon with m-1000 (illegal)
Repeated in slow motion

Quickmatch Fuse (professional)

Cage with Aerial (display)
Repeated in slow motion

Cage with Tip-Over (consumer)
Mannequin on fire

Mannequin in house m-1000 (illegal)
Repeated in slow motion

Mock backyard barbecue setting demonstrating the safe use of consumer fireworks. In the video, children are kept at a distance from fireworks. The fireworks are lit on a flat surface, away from homes, debris, and flammable materials. At the completion of the display, fireworks are immediately doused with water.

SLATES:

If you do decide to set fireworks off on your own, be sure to follow these important safety tips:

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.

B-ROLL PRESS CONFERENCE:

Nancy Nord, Acting Chairman
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Acting Chairman Nancy Nord: I'd like to take just a moment to recognize some people who have a good, close relationships working with our partners, and that is an essential part.

Acting Chairman Nancy Nord: We look forward to the parties, the backyard barbeques, and an overall display of red, white, and blue.

Examples of Legal Fireworks

Spanish Soundbites:

Spokesperson: "Evite que un día de celebración se convierta en una tragedia. Si va a usar fuegos artificiales utilice solo aquellos que son legales y utilícelos de manera segura."

Spokesperson: "Los fuegos artificiales profesionales son sumamente poderosos. Deje que sean manejados por profesionales para evitar lesiones y muertes."

Spokesperson: "No permita que los niños jueguen con fuegos artificiales. Designe un adulto que supervise las actividades que involucren fuegos artificiales. El año pasado hubo alrededor de 9,800 lesiones asociadas a éstos."

End