Fireworks Warning Issued By Safety Commission

During its annual fireworks news conference, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warned consumers about the hazards of fireworks, particularly when used by young children. Every year unsafe fireworks are involved in serious injuries, which have included burns, and loss of limbs, particularly fingers.

Holding a news conference today at the Sylvan Theater on the Mall in Washington, D.C., CPSC Chairman Jacqueline Jones-Smith and U.S. Customs Service Commissioner Carol Hallett stressed the cooperative efforts both agencies have made to keep illegal fireworks and other products out of the hands of consumers.

Since establishing the fireworks program in 1988, the U.S. Customs officers, working with CPSC, have seized 315 million units with a retail value of more than $26 million. "These miniature bombs and rockets that Customs intercepts at our borders are really dangerous weapons. How ironic that these explosives are sent here for Americans to use in celebrating our freedom. U.S. Customs and the Consumer Product Safety Commission want to keep unsafe fireworks out of your hands so that you'll still have those hands next year," said Commissioner Hallett. Chairman Jones-Smith said "This partnership has kept consumers from losing fingers, limbs and eyesight by preventing unsafe fireworks from entering the country. Without this effort, the hospital emergency rooms would have had many more serious cases." Jones-Smith continued "Every year we notice an improvement in the safety of fireworks which is encouraging. But even legal fireworks, if misused, can be a hazard."

Last year's statistics showed that about two-thirds of the fireworks-related injuries during the July 4th season involved small firecrackers and other common household fireworks. These are fireworks which under Federal law may be distributed for the use and enjoyment of consumers.

To help reduce the injuries this 4th of July season, consumers should:

-Keep children from playing with all fireworks.

-Never place your face or any other body part over a fireworks device.

-Do not consume alcohol when using fireworks.

-Read the cautionary labels.

-Do not try to relight fireworks that have not fully functioned.

-Keep a bucket of water handy in case of malfunction or fire.

-Be sure other people are out of range before lighting fireworks.

CPSC is warning consumers to use fireworks safely as part of its mission to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. The Commission's objective is to reduce the estimated 28.5 million injuries and 2l,600 deaths associated each year with the 15,000 different types of consumer products under CPSC's jurisdiction.