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No safe way to shoot fireworks

No safe way to shoot fireworks

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No safe way to shoot fireworks

WMFD recommends leaving 4th of July shows to trained professionals

news@theeveningtimes.com

The West Memphis Fire Department has one word for those planning on personal fireworks this Independence Day: “Don’t.”

The local fire fighters are in full agreement with National Fire Protection Association recommendations.

The NFPA statement is almost as short and sweet.

“Leave the fireworks to professionals. Don’t use consumer fireworks,” said the latest NFPA bulletin.

Nationally thousands of children, teenagers and young adults are injured each July 4th. 18,500 injuries were tallied last year from fireworks. The Alliance to Stop Consumer Fireworks is coordinated by the NFPA and “urges the public to avoid the use of consumer fireworks and instead enjoy displays conducted by trained professionals.”

WMFD Division Chief DeWayne Rose emphasized the same concerns.

“The NFPA and the U.S.

Fire Administration encourage people now days to not buy your own fireworks, but to go to fire work shows,” said Rose. Take the family out and enjoy the evening and let those professionally trained shoot the fireworks. They are so dangerous. “

Danger impacts the young and naive most often. The three most often injured age groups are children 5-9 followed by 10-19 year olds, young adults age 2030 are very close behind.

Parents, you are officially on the hook with kids under 12 year old. The West Memphis ordinance 6.76.020 forbids buying, giving or encouraging kids to shoot fire crackers.

Those under 18 are prohibited from having them at all.

Many people like to hand sparklers to the little ones for fun, but sparklers alone produce one-quarter of emergency room fireworks injuries. And men you might want to depend on some caution from the ladies this Independence Day. 74 percent of all personal pyrotechnics injuries happen to men.

Injuries by body parts rank in this order: Hand and finger 36 percent, eye, 19 percent; head, face or ear, 19 percent; trunk, 11 percent; leg or foot 10 percent.

Personal safety is the main concern. But a lot of property damage happens from fireworks. In the last four years reported, 47 percent of the fires on the 4th were started by fireworks.

Property damage is a concern as well according to Rose.

“Grass fires are our biggest thing,” he said.

The city ordinance recognizes that some will ignore the wishes of the WMFD, and for those, the personal shows must end by midnight on the 4th and by 10 p.m. until July 10.

By John Rech

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