Remington here with the July Fire Safety Blog. Some of you are probably thinking "It’s about time”. Unfortunately, Dad’s computer was down for quite a while and I just wasn’t able to get the blog out. So that’s it with the excuses. Just thinking about it gets me heated up and makes me want to explode. And….with the 4^th of July fast approaching, that, my friends, brings us to this month’s topic; "Fireworks!!!!!!!”  Fireworks safety is huge whether you live here, in the United States, or a country in another area of the world. In many states and cities it is illegal to have consumer fireworks at all. That’s not a bad thing. According to a 2009 report published by the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fireworks were the cause of approximately 22,500 fires and $42 million in property loss in the year 2008. That’s not to mention deaths and injuries related to these fires. Another 2009 report published by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) found that Fireworks Related Injuries for the year 2008 (est. 7000) were actually down from Year 2007 (est. 9800). I guess we could say "that’s a good thing”. And I bet you can just guess what age group and gender rates the highest in these statistics. Of course, that would be males 10 to 24 years of age (62%)…... Surprising???? I don’t think so.

While actual deaths don’t seem to be that high (7 in 2008) when talking about fireworks, they are still totally preventable, as are injuries. Deaths and injuries alike both stem from, in almost every case, the misuse or illegal use of fireworks. Hands and fingers, with an estimated 1,400 injuries, accounted for 28 percent of the total injuries, followed by an estimated 1,000 eye injuries, 900 leg injuries, and 800 injuries to the head/face/ear region according to the 2009 CPSC report.  

Are some "consumer fireworks” safer than others??? Yes. But even sparklers can cause severe injuries and are in fact one of the most dangerous fireworks on the market. Fact…Sparklers burn at approximately 1000 degrees F and 3 sparklers burning together generate the same heat as a blow-torch. How’s that for hot? Have your kids wear gloves, full coverage shoes, and eye protection while using all fireworks. And for all my friends out there with teens….If you see them having a renewed interest in sparklers….check to see what they are doing with them. Sparklers have become a leader in consumer fireworks deaths and dismemberments in recent years because of illegal uses. For more information on this subject watch this video. I think it is very self explanatory.

Bottom line…..Consumer Fireworks are dangerous. Most are made overseas where quality control measures are, for the most part, non existent. If you feel the need to use consumer fireworks, PLEASE use them in a safe manner. Use proper PPE (personal protective equipment) and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for each particular firework. Only use fireworks in large, flat, open areas keeping galleries at safe distances. Always have a means of extinguishment available while using fireworks. A charged water hose, 5 gal buckets of water, and maybe even a small dry chemical fire extinguisher would be in order. And remember parents, "SUPERVISE, SUPERVISE, and SUPERVISE some more”. For the best outcome, consider leaving your fireworks displays to the professionals. Plan a family outing to the local Public Display and just kick back and have some family fun. Just remember to leave the pets at home. Even some of the most seasoned hunting dogs can come unglued with all those "bombs bursting in air” on and around the 4^th of July.

Well….That’s it for this month. Here’s wishing everyone a SAFE and HAPPY 4^th of July. Remember to test your home Smoke Detectors monthly and talk with family members about escape routes and meeting places.

"Smoke Detectors Save Lives”

I’m "Remington the Fire Dog” and I’m out of here.