National
Council on
Fireworks Safety
Urges Caution
with Sparklers
WASHINGTON, Dec.
30, 2008 --
According to the
U.S. Consumer
Product Safety
Commission
("CPSC"),
approximately 16%
of all
consumer
fireworks
injuries are
caused by
sparklers burning
hands and legs,
with the majority
of sparkler
injuries
occurring to
young children.
In fact, sparkler
injuries
accounted for 1/3
of all firework
injuries to
children 5 years
or younger. These
are injuries that
would not have
occurred if there
had been close
adult supervision
and if some basic
safety steps had
been taken.
The National
Council on
Fireworks Safety
offers these
safety steps for
sparklers, in the
hopes that
sparkler injuries
to young children
can be greatly
reduced.
-- Children under
the age of 12
should not use
sparklers without
very close adult
supervision.
-- Always remain
standing while
using sparklers.
-- Never hold a
child in your
arms while using
sparklers.
-- Never hold, or
light, more than
one sparkler at a
time.
-- Sparklers and
bare feet can be
a painful
combination.
Always wear
closed-toe shoes
when using
sparklers.
-- Sparkler wire
and stick remain
hot long after
the flame has
gone out. Be sure
to drop the spent
sparklers
directly in a
bucket of water.
-- Never hand a
lighted sparkler
to another
person. Give them
the unlit
sparkler and then
light it.
-- Always stand
at least 6 feet
from another
person while
using sparklers.
-- Never throw
sparklers.
--
Show children how
to hold sparklers
away from their
body and at arm's
length.
-- Teach children
not to wave
sparklers,
especially wooden
stick sparklers,
or run while
holding
sparklers.
Sparklers have
been a
traditional means
of celebration
for hundreds of
years. Let's
teach our
children how to
use them safely
and help prevent
needless
injuries.
The
National Council
on Fireworks
Safety
is a 501(c)(3)
charitable
organization
whose sole
mission is to
educate the
public on the
safe and
responsible use
of consumer
fireworks.
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