Easton's fire chief said it is better to leave fireworks displays to the professionals.
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View full sizeJessie Mitchell, of Riegelsville, packs up fireworks Wednesday after they have been purchased at Phantom Fireworks store in Easton. Easton fire Chief John Bast has one word for those planning to purchase fireworks for Fourth of July celebrations: don’t.
“Leave them sitting on the vendors’ tables,” he said. “You’re taking a big chance when you use them.”
Local fire officials, vendors and a nationwide group are urging the public to be careful when handling consumer fireworks or to not use them altogether.
More than 9,000 fireworks-related injuries happen each year, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Of that number, nearly 50 percent are head-related injuries, with nearly 30 percent of these injuries to the eyes; one-fourth of fireworks eye injuries result in permanent vision loss or blindness.
With the holiday approaching, business at Phantom Fireworks in Williams Township has been booming, said Joe Mazak, assistant manager. But, the firework store is also making sure fireworks end up in the hands of responsible adults, he said.
“You have to be 18 years old to enter the showroom,” he said. “If you’re underage, you have to enter with a parent or legal guardian.”
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View full sizeShawn Feely, of Easton, stocks fireworks Wednesday at Phantom Fireworks in Williams Township. There’s a table display in front of the store showing customers how to properly set up firework displays, he said. It contains information on using safety goggles and gloves and having a water source and fire extinguisher near the shooting site, he said. Each customer also receives a safety flier, he said.
Fireworks that leave the ground such as Roman candles and bottle rockets cannot be sold to Pennsylvania residents, Mazak said.
“If it explodes or shoots in the air,” Bast said, “it’s illegal.”
Sparklers and novelty fireworks are legal in the state, but they also account for 32 percent of the injuries that happen, Bast said. About 18,000 reported fires across the U.S. are caused by fireworks, he said.
“We remind everybody to go to public events,” he said. “Leave it to the professionals.”
July is Fireworks Eye Safety Awareness Month, and the Pennsylvania Academy of Ophthalmology urges the public to leave fireworks to professionals. The group also recommends:
- Never allowing children to play with fireworks of any type.
- Viewing fireworks from a safe distance: at least 500 feet away or up to a quarter of a mile for best viewing.
- Respecting safety barriers set up to allow pyrotechnicians to do their jobs safely.
- Leaving the lighting of fireworks to trained professionals.
- Following directives given by event ushers or public safety personnel.
- Immediately contacting local fire or police if you find unexploded fireworks. Do not touch them.
- Seeking medical help immediately for an eye injury from fireworks.