CPSC Issues Fireworks Injury Warning, Overloaded Rockets Recalled

A new federal report warns that two people were killed and 9,000 injured last year while setting off fireworks at home during Independence Day celebrations. The report accompanied an annual fireworks safety warning and a recall for a batch of overloaded consumer rockets. 

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) used its 2009 fireworks injury report (pdf) to highlight the hazards of setting off fireworks, particularly illegal or professional explosive devices. According to the report, both deaths last year involved the use of mortars. Most fireworks injuries were inflicted on people under the age of 20 and in many cases resulted in the loss of a limb. The report focuses on the month-long “fireworks season” around the Fourth of July.

According to the CPSC fireworks safety warning, consumers should adhere to the following precautions:

• Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
• Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.
• Avoid buying fireworks that come in brown paper packaging, as this can often be a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and could pose a danger to consumers.
• Adults should always supervise fireworks activities. Parents often don’t realize that there are many injuries from sparklers to children under five. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees – hot enough to melt some metals.
• Never have any portion of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Move back to a safe distance immediately after lighting.
• Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not fully functioned.
• Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
• Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.
• Light one item at a time then move back quickly.
• Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.
• After fireworks fully complete their functioning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding to prevent a trash fire.

The CPSC also issued a fireworks recall for about 4,700 Super Lightning Rockets, produced by Big Fireworks of Lansing, Michigan. The rockets are overloaded with pyrotechnic composition and could cause a larger explosion than the consumer expects, the CPSC warned.

The recalled fireworks are stick-type rockets with 1 ½-inch diameter engines mounted on 32-inch wood sticks. The fireworks have “Super Rocket” printed on them in various colors and the engine is wrapped in black paper and has an image of the solar system. The package, which contains four rockets, have the item number GCR3150 printed on the front.

The recalled rockets were sold at stores and fireworks stands for about $20 in Florida, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Michigan from November 2009 through June 2010.

Any consumers who purchased the recalled rockets should contact Big Fireworks through their website at www.bigfireworks.com to receive a full refund.