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For Immediate Release Friday, June 23, 2006
Celebrate Safely this Forth of July
DENVER--As the Fourth of July approaches, state health and safety
experts Wednesday warned Coloradans to keep fireworks away from young
children and to exercise extreme caution if they choose to ignite
fireworks at home.
Barbara Bailey, an injury prevention specialist with Safe Kids Colorado,
a program of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment,
said, “We recommend that individuals view a professional display instead
of using fireworks for home displays. Permanent scarring, loss of
vision, hearing and dismemberment are too often the harsh realities of
amateur fireworks use.”
Bailey added that professional displays are preferred because of the
high fire danger in Colorado. On June 21, Gov. Bill Owens signed an
executive order prohibiting open fires and fireworks throughout the
state park system. In addition, the governor issued a letter to all
local governments urging them to ban the sale of fireworks in areas
prone to wildfires.
“It is very dry in Colorado this year. One spark from a lit match that
hasn’t burned out, or from a sparkler, is enough to start a devastating
fire,” Bailey warned.
She added that even though state law prohibits the purchase or sale of
illegal fireworks, fire inspectors in past years have confiscated
illegal fireworks being sold at locations throughout Colorado.
The most common illegal fireworks sold in the state are pop bottle
rockets and firecrackers.
Coloradans who do plan to purchase and ignite legal, permissible
fireworks are advised to take the following precautions:
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Check with your local police or fire department to determine local
fireworks ordinances and permissible uses of consumer fireworks.
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Supervise older children constantly while they are using fireworks.
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Do not allow young children to set off fireworks. Young children will
often become very excited around fireworks causing them to mishandle or
drop the fireworks.
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Purchase only those fireworks that that can be legally used and that
are in sound condition. Inspect fireworks for signs of powder leaking,
age or moisture exposure.
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Visit www.recalls.gov to check for fireworks that may be recalled.
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Never use homemade or modified fireworks.
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Never ignite fireworks in glass or metal containers. Flying glass and
metal can cause serious injuries to onlookers.
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Have a bucket of water available to extinguish sprinklers or other
fireworks.
For more information, call Bailey at 303-692-2589.
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