Background Information Fireworks News Conference

I. Background

Every year thousands of Americans are treated in hospital emergency rooms throughout the country for injuries caused by fireworks. In 1984 alone, over 9,800 persons suffered fireworks related injuries. Over half of the injuries were burns and lacerations. Also included are several amputations along with incidents of both eye and hearing damage. More than half of these were children under 15 years of age. In addition, seven persons are known to have died in fireworks related incidents in 1984.

In 1976, the Consumer Product Safety Commission published regulations banning the use by consumers of the larger, more dangerous Class "B" explodding fireworks and establishing safety performance requirements for the smaller, more common Class "C" fireworks.

II. LEGAL FIREWORKS

Each year the CPSC conducts an investigation efforts (to enforce regulations) to ensure that manufacturers sell to consumers only those fireworks which comply with CPSC regulations.

Fireworks devices such as mortar shells, firecrackers containing not more than 50 mg. of powder, sparklers, bottle rockets, cone fountains I roman candles, mines, wheels, helicopters and multiple tube devices, are commonly known as "Class C" or "Safe and Sane fireworks;" These may be sold to consumers according to federal regulations so long as they comply with the labeling and performance requirements specified in the regulations.

For example:

(1) Common firecrackers must contain not more than 50 mg of explosive powner. They must have a safety fuse that burns at least three seconds but not more than six seconds. They must also be labeled with an appropriate statement of hazard, and instructions for handling, storage and use. Regulations specify labeling for other types of fireworks. For example, sparklers must bear the following cautionary information: "WARNING: Flammable. Use only under adult supervision. For outdoor use only. Do not touch glowing wire. Hold in hand with arms extended away from body. Keep burning end of sparks away from wearing apparel or other flammable materials."

Although these Class C fireworks must meet federal regulations, most states have their own laws governing the sale and use of fireworks. Fourteen states have banned the use of all fireworks devices regardless of whether they comply with federal regulations and nine states allow sparklers and snakes only.

Before buying and using any fireworks check with local police or fire officials to find out what is legal in your state.

III. ILLEGAL FIREWORKS

In spite of federal laws which have prohibited their sale for nearly twenty years, Class B fireworks are sold and used in virtually every state in the country. These devices which include Cherry bombs, M 80's, Silver salutes, M 100's and other large firecrackers are among the most common of the banned Class B fireworks and are commonly available to consumers through bootleg sale at road side stands and other retail establishments.

With kits consumers have at their fingertips the equipment for making highly explosive, potentially lethal fireworks devices such as M 80's, M 100's, Cherry Bombs and even much larger and more dangerous devices is possible.

These kits are especially dangerous because the consumer is required to handle and mix large quantities, often one, two, or five pounds of the explosive chemicals in the home, many times without a clear understanding of the explosive potential of the mixture. A consumer who is mixing the explosive chemicals from a kit often has at his disposal enough explosive powder to make about 100 or more M-100 devices.

These chemicals are easily ignited by careless

The CPSC investigated one incident where a 14 year-old boy was mixing a small portion of chemicals which he had received in the mail to make explosives. Triggered by an unidentified source, or perhaps the mere action of mixing them, the chemicals exploded with a tremendous force. A chunk of the ceramic bowl in which he was mixing the chemicals was impaled in his lower abdomen and he was propelled through a nearby glass door. The explosion completely destroyed the kitchen he was working in and three other rooms in the house. Miraculously, the boy lived to recover with damage to one eye and some hearing loss.

v. SAFETY TIPS

To make your holiday safer, be careful in using all fireworks devices. Do not allow younger children to ignite or play with fireworks . under any circumstances. Remember that fireworks are not toys for children to play with.

To help reduce the risk of injury while using fireworks, the following safety precaution should be observed:

REMARKS OF TERRENCE SCANLON, CHAIRMAN

U. S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

AT THE

FIREWORKS PRESS CONFERENCE

SYLVAN THEATRE

WASHINGTON, D.C.

JUNE 19, 1985

JULY 4TH IS JUST OVER TWO WEEKS AWAY AND THAT MEANS FIREWORKS -- LITERALLY, OR IF PEOPLE AREN'T CAREFUL, IT COULD MEAN SOMETHING FAR WORSE -- SERIOUS INJURY OR PERHAPS EVEN DEATH EACH YEAR, ROUGHLY 55 MILLION POUNDS OF FIREWORKS ARE SHOT OFF IN THIS COUNTRY, 2/3's OF THESE ARE OF THE FAMILY FIREWORKS VARIETY WHILE THE OTHER THIRD IS USED FOR PUBLIC FIREWORKS DISPLAYS, BUT WHAT CONCERNS ME, AND WHAT 1 HOPE EVERYONE WILL TAKE TO HEART, ARE SOME OTHER STATISTICS, IN 1984, THERE WERE 7 DEATHS AND OVER 9800 INJURIES ASSOCIATED WITH FIREWORKS, OVER HALF THE INJURIES CONSISTED OF BURNS OR LACERATIONS AND MANY WERE SUFFERED BY CHILDREN UNDER 15, SOME OF THESE INJURIES WERE QUITE SEVERE, INVOLVING LOSS OF HEARING, LOSS OF SIGHT OR LOSS OF A LIMB IN ADDITION TO BEING DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN, MANY FIREWORKS ARE ILLEGAL AS WELL, THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION BANS ALL THE LARGER, MORE DANGEROUS CLASS B FIREWORKS AND SETS SAFETY STANDARDS FOR THE SMALLER, MORE CORN CLASS C FIREWORKS, AND SOME STATES GO EVEN FURTHER; 14 BAN FIREWORKS ALTOGETHER AND NINE MORE HAVE LIMITED LEGAL FIREWORKS TO SPARKLERS AND SNAKES, SO BEFORE YOU BUY ANY FIREWORKS MAKE SURE THEY ARE LEGAL, AND, IF IN DOUBT, CONTACT YOUR LOCAL POLICE OR FIRE OFFICIALS, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO ADVISE YOU BY THE WAY, IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT OBTAINING FIREWORKS BY MAIL, KEEP IN MIND THAT MAIL ORDER FIREWORKS KITS CONTAINING MATERIAL THAT COULD RESULT IN ME PRODUCTION OF FIREWORKS WITH MORE THAN 50 MILLIGRAMS OF POWDER ARE ALSO ILLEGAL, USING SUCH A KIT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS; SOME OF THESE HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO CONTAIN ENOUGH POWDER TO CAUSE AN EXPLOSION EQUIVALENT TO THAT PRODUCED BY A QUARTER OR HALF STICK OF DYNAMITE As THE 4TH OF JULY NEARS, THE CPSC WILL BE STEPPING UP ITS SURVEILLANCE OF BOTH RETAIL AND MAIL ORDER FIREWORKS SALES, THOSE CONVICTED OF FIREWORKS VIOLATIONS COULD FACE A FINE OR EVEN A JAIL SENTENCE, OUR PURPOSE IS NOT TO PUT A DAMPER ON THE 4TH OF JULY, QUITE THE CONTRARY, WE, AT THE CPSC, WANT YOU AND YOURS TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY THIS INDEPENDENCE DAY -- AND THE NEXT AND THE NEXT -- TO THE FULLEST, AND THE BEST WAY FOR THAT TO HAPPEN IS FOR ALL OF us TO TAKE CARE WHEN IT COMES TO FIREWORKS, BE AWARE OF THE RISKS, BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE ILLEGAL FIREWORKS WHEN YOU SEE THEM AND KNOW WHAT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS TO TAKE IF YOU OR YOUR CHILDREN DECIDE TO SHOOT OFF SOME LEGAL FIREWORKS IF YOU WANT ADDITIONAL INFORM4TION ON FIREWORKS, THE CPSC hAs PUT our A PRODUCT SAFETV FACTSHEET (#12>, COPIES MAY BE OBTAINED BY WRITING ME CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, 1111 18TH STREET, N.W. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20207 OR BY CALLING OUR TOLL FREE HOTLINE, 800-638-CPSC