Rocky Mountain Insurance Information
NEWS

6565 South Dayton St. #2400, Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111
Serving Colorado, New Mexico, Utah & Wyoming

Contact: Carole Walker, Executive Director
(303) 790-0216 or 1-800-355-9524
Release Date: Immediately
Topic: Prevention

UNSAFE FIREWORKS USE SPARKS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGES AND THOUSANDS OF FIREWORKS-RELATED INJURIES.

July 3, 2001 - Fireworks fans may get a bang for their buck as they light up the skies this Fourth of July Weekend, but the unsafe use of fireworks comes with a hefty price tag-both in terms of fire loss and injury. In 1998, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that fireworks injured 7,000 people and caused nearly $8 million in damage. 

Wildfires are another concern. Pyrotechnics and the hot, dry weather in the Rocky Mountain Region are a lethal combination. The safest way to enjoy Independence Day is to attend a professional fireworks show that's staged well out of the way of spectators, rooftops and dry brush.

Illegal Fireworks

If you do decide to light up the skies over your own backyard keep in mind that illegal fireworks pose a real threat. Roughly 51 percent of fireworks-related injuries are caused by firecrackers. Sky rockets are responsible for 12 percent of reported injuries and sparklers for another 7 percent. Studies by the CPSC indicate that in instances where legal types of fireworks were involved accidents, either from misuse or malfunction, the resulting injuries were relatively minor and did not require hospitalization.

If you think you won't get caught having an illegal "blast," consider these statistics from Denver, Aurora, West Metro, Lakewood, Cunningham and Jefferson Counties in Colorado from June 30-July 5, 2000:

• 184 summonses issued for illegal possession or use of fireworks

• More than 2,250 fireworks complaints

• 4,300 pounds of illegal fireworks were confiscated or turned in from nearly 600 seizures

( Source: Metro Fireworks Coalition )

You should contact your local fire department to find out if fireworks are legal in your community and how they may be used. Keep in mind that illegal and deliberate acts aren't typically covered by insurance, so a fire started by fireworks that are against the law may not be insured.

Fireworks Safety Tips

• Always read and follow label directions
• Always have an adult present
• Only buy from reliable fireworks sellers
• Only ignite fireworks outdoors
• Be sure to have water handy
• Never experiment or attempt to make your own fireworks
• Light only one at a time and put used fireworks in a bucket of water
• Never re-ignite malfunctioning fireworks
• Never give fireworks to small children
• Store fireworks in a cool, dry place
• Dispose of fireworks properly
• Never throw fireworks at another person
• Never carry fireworks in your pocket
• Never shoot fireworks in metal or glass containers

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Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association is a non-profit consumer information organization. Affiliated with the Insurance Information Institute, RMIIA has been serving consumers and the media since 1952.

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Updated: February 28, 2007 1:52 PM
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