FIREWORKS
SAFETY
But the
celebration is ruined when careless and inappropriate use
of fireworks results in injury. According to the US Consumer Products
Safety
Commission, 8,500 people in the
We hope that you
will enjoy the fun and
excitement of your Fireworks, and that you will do so in a safe and
careful
manner.
Fireworks
are an American tradition. They can provide hours of
wholesome, family entertainment, but must be used by adults carefully
and
safely. To insure the safety of both the audience and those lighting
the
fireworks, we recommend that you obey the following fireworks safety
measures
during your fireworks display.
1. CHILDREN SHOULD NOT HANDLE FIREWORKS.
NEVER
LET CHILDREN HANDLE,
PLAY WITH, OR LIGHT ANY FIREWORKS. ONLY ADULTS SHOULD HANDLE AND LIGHT
THE
FIREWORKS. The fireworks are great family fun, but they burn very hot
and are
intended to be handled only by adults.
2. DO NOT USE ALCOHOL WITH FIREWORKS.
Please
do not consume any
alcohol while lighting or handling fireworks. Fireworks must be used
only by
individuals who act in a responsible manner and who are not under the
influence
of alcohol or drugs. If you are impaired in any way when you use
fireworks, you
increase the possibilities of misuse and injury to yourself and others.
3. FOLLOW THE LAWS; USE COMMON SENSE
Follow
your local and state
laws regarding the possession and use of fireworks, and use good common
sense
when using fireworks. Read all directions, cautions, labels, and
warnings on
each individual firework item to understand the product performance and
hazards
associated with it. If your state has shooters' sites, use them. Use
only those
fireworks permitted under the laws of the state and local jurisdiction
in which
you are using the fireworks.
4. USE FIREWORKS ON A HARD SURFACE.
Always
light fireworks on a
hard, flat, and level surface to insure the stability of the items.
Grass is
generally not suitable for any item intended to be used in an upright
position.
(If lighting fireworks on grass, lay down a flat wooden board for a
shooting
surface.)
5. USE IN A CLEAR, OPEN AREA.
Always keep the
audience
(and particularly children) a safe distance away from the shooting
site. Always
light your fireworks in a clear open area away from buildings,
vehicles, and
shrubbery. A minimum clear radius of 30 feet for fountains and other
ground based
items and 100 yards for any aerial product is recommended. You should
avoid
lighting the fireworks in any area where there is dry grass or brush
that could
catch fire or near any flammable items. Never use fireworks indoors.
Never
shoot fireworks in metal or glass containers.
6. KEEP CLEAR OF THE FIREWORKS.
Never put your
head or any
part of your body over the top of any fireworks product. Never look
into a tube
to check on the firework item. Never hold a lighted firework item in
your hand.
Keep as far from the firework item as possible when lighting.
7. USE CARE IN LIGHTING THE FIREWORKS.
Always light
fireworks
products with punk, or an extended butane lighting device. This will
enable you
to keep as far from the firework item as possible. If needed, use a
flashlight
at night so the fuse can be easily seen; never use a lantern or other
flame
producing device near fireworks for illumination. Light the fireworks
product
and get away quickly. Respect the fireworks, because if used
improperly, they
can be dangerous.
8. ONE AT A TIME.
Light only one
firework item
at a time.
9. DON'T USE MALFUNCTIONING OR "DUD" ITEMS.
Never
attempt to re light,
alter, or fix any "dud" firework item. If a firework item fails to
ignite, let it stand for at least five minutes, then immerse it in
water.
Dispose of the item properly. You can always return the item to your
dealer for
replacement.
10. HAVE WATER CLOSE BY.
Have an accessible
fire
extinguisher, water supply, hose, or bucket of water nearby for
emergencies.
During any fireworks shoot, there should always be one individual
assigned as
the fireman, whose sole job is to be alert and at the ready with a
water
source.
11. WINDY CONDITIONS.
Be cautious of
lighting any
fireworks during strong wind conditions. Fireworks should be lit with
the
prevailing wind blowing away from the spectators. If there is a
significant
wind shift during the time you are lighting the fireworks, rearrange
the
shooting site to accommodate the wind shift or stop shooting until the
windy
conditions subside.
12. USE CARE IN HANDLING FIREWORKS.
Do not carry
fireworks in
your pocket or on your person. It is preferable to keep the products in
a
closed container before ignition. Always be careful in handling
fireworks to
prevent dropping them. Never smoke when handling fireworks.
13. NEVER USE THE FIREWORKS AS WEAPONS.
Never
aim, point, or throw
any fireworks at another person or at any property.
14. STORAGE OF FIREWORKS.
Always store
fireworks in a
cool, dry place and dispose of fireworks properly.
15. USE FIREWORKS OUTDOORS.
Never use
fireworks indoors;
only use them outdoors under safe conditions.
16. PURCHASE FIREWORKS FROM RELIABLE DEALERS.
Buy fireworks only
from
reliable, licensed fireworks dealers. Licensed and reliable dealers
will only
carry those products that meet standards set and enforced by the U.S.
Consumer
Product Safety Commission. Do not use illegal explosives; do not alter
any
firework device; do not make your own fireworks.
17. SAFETY GLASSES.
Safety
glasses are
recommended for those individuals lighting the fireworks and those
individuals
in close proximity to the fireworks.
18. BE CAREFUL WITH ANIMALS.
The noise and
lights of
fireworks often frighten some animals, so it is very important that you
are
careful with pets and farm animals. You may want to consider moving the
animals
away or keeping them inside during your display. Please be considerate
of your
pets and animals when using fireworks.
19. DO NOT TRANSPORT FIREWORKS ON AIRPLANES.
It is a
violation of federal
aviation law to transport any fireworks device on an airplane. Please
respect
this law and do not attempt to carry any fireworks onto an airplane or
transport them in your luggage.
Kemp
Fire Department wants
you and your family to have a fun and enjoyable experience with your
fireworks,
and the only way to insure that safe experience is to follow all of the
safety
rules. Please use your fireworks
safely.
Consumer fireworks
are officially referred to as UNO336 1.4G
fireworks. They used to be called Class C or common fireworks. The
definitions
and standards for the consumer fireworks are found in Title 49 of the
Code of
Federal Regulations.
All of
our fireworks products meet or exceed the standards
established by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S.
Consumer
Product Safety Commission for UN0336 1.4G (Class C) consumer fireworks
Please remember
fireworks safety every time you use fireworks.