Fireworks Safety

Fireworks have lit up the skies of many warm summer nights. Although beautiful, the delicate sprays of green, gold and orange can quickly turn into the red and white strobe of an ambulance if extreme caution is not exercised while handling fireworks.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that in 2006, the last year a fireworks-related injury report was generated, 11 people died and an estimated 9,200 were treated in emergency departments for fireworks-related injuries in the United States. The Army is not immune to these statistics. Just four years ago, a Soldier lost his eye after a firework ignited prematurely and hit him in the face.

Our advice: Go out, relax and let someone else do the dangerous work while you sit back and enjoy. But if you do handle fireworks, learn about fireworks safety at www.fireworksafety.com. For information about the Army’s Safe Summer Campaign, visit https://safety.army.mil.