Newswise — Think twice before you pick up that box of sparklers at the grocery store " and don't even give the Roman Candles or firecrackers a second look.
"They are neither safe nor sane," said Dr. Bruce Cairns, medical director of the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center at UNC Hospitals, echoing the motto of the National Fire Protection Agency, whose Web site calls fireworks the riskiest consumer product.
What's worse, said Cairns, is that children are most often injured by firework-related accidents.
"We tell kids not to play with lighters, not to play with fire, but it's OK to play with this? It just doesn't make sense to us," Cairns said. "It's really unclear what benefit there is to using a pyrotechnic device as a toy."
The American Burn Association reports that close to 10,000 people suffer from fireworks injuries every year. According to the NFPA Website, the risk of fireworks injury was two-and-a-half times higher for children between the ages of 10 and 14 than for the general population.
Cairns said every year several people are admitted to the Jaycee Burn Center, and many others are treated in the Emergency Department, after the Fourth of July for firework-related burns and the statistics don't lie. "It's always kids, and more males than females."
The most dangerous fireworks are also the most common. Firecrackers, sparklers and Roman candles accounted for more than 50 percent of all fireworks-related injuries in 2006, according to the NFPA.
These so-called "household" fireworks can reach temperatures exceeding 1200 degrees " several hundred degrees hotter than a match flame. The intense energy that creates the exciting effect of a firework or sparkler translates into very high temperatures and bad burns, said Cairns.
"People are just not aware of how dangerous it really is. If they knew they wouldn't want to take a chance with it," said Cairns. Even though the data is compelling, Cairns thinks awareness of firework danger has not made it to the level it needs to be.
"Don't buy them, don't play with them, don't light them," is the best advice Cairns said he can give.
Most towns have good professional fireworks displays and Cairns suggests these for your annual Independence Day festivities. "Leave it to professionals. Make it a community affair."
While Dr. Cairns was reluctant to give any tips for at-home fireworks displays because of the high risk of injury, he said the Jaycee Burn center does have some advice if you can't live without a few sparklers at your back-yard barbeque.
"¢ Only adults should light fireworks. We send mixed messages when we tell kids not to play with matches and lighters, but give them permission to when it comes to fireworks."¢ Always light fireworks in a wide-open space, not near homes, dry grass or other objects that could catch fire."¢ Always have a water hose available when lighting fireworks to extinguish any fires that may start."¢ Never attempt to re-light fireworks that may not have exploded " they may do so in your hand or face."¢ Know how to treat a burn should an injury occur. Cool the burn with cool water (not ice), wrap in a clean, dry dressing and seek medical attention."¢ Never mix fireworks and alcohol.
For more about the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center, visit http://www.ncjayceeburncenter.org/
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