LEBANON — The summer season comes with many reasons to celebrate— family vacations, barbecues, and of course, the Fourth of July. In New Hampshire, where many families flock for vacations, the purchase and lighting of certain permissible fireworks is legal, making the activity a popular summer pastime.
The Injury Prevention Center at the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock (CHaD) and the New Hampshire Division of Fire Safety urge people to be prepared, be safe and be responsible when enjoying fireworks this summer.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that approximately 11,900 fireworks-related injuries are treated each year in emergency rooms in the United States.
“Attending a professional display is truly the safest way to enjoy fireworks,” said Chris Wyman, CFI-CI, Investigator, New Hampshire Division of Fire Safety, Office of the State Fire Marshal. “We see a significant amount of consumer-related fireworks injuries every year. When used inappropriately, or handled incorrectly, the consequences can be severe injury or death.”
Because the sale and use of certain permissible fireworks is legal in the State of New Hampshire, the Injury Prevention Center at CHaD and the New Hampshire Division of Fire Safety wish to remind people of the rules and important safety considerations for the use of fireworks.
People must be 21 years of age to purchase, possess, and use permissible fireworks in New Hampshire. People must be on their own property, have written permission to use someone else’s property, or be in the landowner’s presence. And, those who wish to use fireworks must follow local ordinances, which may have further restrictions on fireworks use.
A few guidelines regarding purchasing and enjoying fireworks:
Make sure that the fireworks are permissible in New Hampshire. Fireworks should only be purchased from licensed retailers, and users should follow all manufacturer safety instructions.
Contact the local fire department to check on current fire danger conditions before using fireworks.
Do not ignite fireworks near any structures (buildings, campers, tents) – check each firework device for its specific safety distance – and make safety preparations, such as having a fire extinguisher, hose, and buckets of water nearby.
Always wear eye and ear protection, gloves, and clothing that cannot easily ignite, such as nylon.
Keep spectators at a safe distance, as each firework device has a specific safety distance listed in its instructions. All fireworks should be set off outdoors and away from anything that can burn or easily ignite. Light only one device at a time and move away quickly.
Additionally, veterans, pets, livestock, and neighbors may not appreciate the sounds and effects of fireworks, so check in before making any plans for firework activity.
Devices that do not fire are extremely dangerous. If a firework does not discharge, users should keep away for 10 minutes of more, then fill the firework with water or place it in a bucket of water.
Finally, people should clean up firework debris when finished, and ensure that any debris or items used to light fireworks, such as matches or lighters, are secured and out of the reach of children.
Among the top-three most injury-causing fireworks are firecrackers and bottle rockets. However, sparklers can be just as unsafe as any other firework, burning at 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit. Sparklers can easily burn hands and have caused children’s clothing to catch on fire. Leave the sparklers for adults to handle and send the kids off with glow sticks or novelty LED lights.
“At the end of the day, fireworks are entertainment with an explosive,” says Wyman. “It’s not worth somebody’s life.”
For more information regarding permissible fireworks safety, visit www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/firesafety/special-operations/fireworks/index.html or www.safekids.org.
For information about the Injury Prevention Center at Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, visit www.chadkids.org
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