CPSC Warns About Fireworks After Deadly Ohio Fire

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) repeated its warning that fireworks can be extremely dangerous, after a fire in Scottown, Ohio, killed eight people yesterday. CPSC chairman Ann Brown said, ""The Ohio case is being investigated by CPSC and other authorities. It points up the hazards of fireworks. No firework is 100 percent safe.""

As part of its fireworks surveillance program, CPSC prevents large numbers of hazardous fireworks from reaching store shelves. Working with the U.S. Customs Service, CPSC has seized or detained so far this year more than 2.5 million hazardous fireworks at docks across the country.

Also this year, CPSC adopted a standard to eliminate the deadly tip-over hazard in large multiple-tube fireworks, which killed two innocent bystanders, including a three-year-old boy, at family celebrations. Most domestic manufacturers of these multiple-tube devices voluntarily developed a new, safer base for these fireworks in advance of the mandatory standard, which goes into effect in March 1997.

In 1995, hospital emergency rooms treated over 11,000 fireworks-related injuries with about 7,000 occurring in the month of July. "Children under the age of 15 sustained about 4,700 or one-third of these injuries," Brown said. "Even sparklers, which are considered by many to be an ideal firework for children, burn at very high temperatures and can easily ignite clothing. Families should use fireworks safely or, better yet, leave them to the professionals."

To reduce the risk of injuries from fireworks, CPSC recommends:

- Never allow young children to play with fireworks.

- Read and follow all warnings and instructions.

- Never try to relight fireworks that have not fully functioned. * Keep a bucket of water handy in case of a malfunction or fire.

- Only light fireworks on a smooth, flat surface away from the house, dry leaves and flammable material.