Published: July 01, 2009 08:01 pm         

Celebrate safety on Fourth of July

The Fourth of July is a time for celebration across the country and fireworks are a crowd favorite in Terre Haute. Whether at a professional show or in the backyard, fireworks can be fun to watch, but are also very dangerous.

In 2007, an estimated 2,600 children age 14 and under were treated in U.S. emergency rooms for injuries involving fireworks during the fireworks season, which runs from the middle of June until the middle of July.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, approximately 40 percent of the people injured by fireworks were under the age of 15.

“Don’t ever let kids play with fireworks, period,” says Safe Kids Vigo County coordinator Julie Wheatley.

“They’re intended for use by adults in open spaces and children should watch from a safe distance with plenty of adult supervision to make sure they don’t get too close,” Wheatley warns.

“The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to watch them at a community event where professionals handle them,” Wheatley said.

Fireworks, including sparklers and flares, can cause serious burns as well as blast injuries that can permanently impair vision and hearing.

“Teach your children how to call 911 in an emergency. Also teach them what to do if their clothing catches on fire — ‘stop, drop and roll,’” adds Wheatley.

Many pyrotechnic devices are illegal in Vigo County. Where permitted by law, fireworks should be handled and used in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and all warning labels.

For more information about fireworks safety and burn prevention, call (812) 237-5190 or visit www.usa.safekids.org.

Safe Kids Vigo County works to prevent accidental childhood injury, the leading killer of children 14 and under. Safe Kids Vigo County is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations dedicated to preventing accidental injury.