Fireworks Safety

Happy Fourth of July! This is a great weekend to celebrate with family and friends. But if you're putting on your own fireworks show this year, be careful.

The latest report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission indicates that there were reports of two fireworks-related deaths and an estimated 9,000 hospital emergency room treated injuries in 2009. In 2008, CPSC had reports of seven deaths and an estimated 7,000 injuries.

Below are some safety tips from the CPSC. If you are still the unfortunate victim of a firework accident, call my office at 702-240-0000. We handle personal injury and product liability cases and call help you if you are hurt. Be extra careful and have a safe weekend!

-Ed Bernstein

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 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.

If you're aware of an illegal manufacturing operation, or see anyone selling devices or fireworks illegally, please report it immediately to your local law enforcement agency or to ATF at (888) 283-2662.