Authorities urge common sense during celebrations

by Logan Gruber

operations@thenewsleaders.com

The Minnesota State Fire Marshal reports Minnesota hospitals treated 70 fireworks injuries between June 22 through July 15, 2014. Most years, no injuries happen during this time period in St. Joseph. But authorities still urge caution.

“Use common sense and good judgment during the holiday,” Police Chief Joel Klein said in a Newsleader interview. “Even the legal fireworks can injure people.”

Klein said most injuries the local emergency services see are from people not lighting their fireworks properly, or not giving the fireworks enough space.

The Minnesota Optometric Association states that in 2013, children under the age of 5 experienced a higher estimated injury rate than any other age group. The MOA suggests the following safety tips:

• Discuss fireworks safety with children and teens and never allow children unsupervised near fireworks.
• Wear protective eye-wear when lighting or handling fireworks of any kind. Store fireworks, matches and lighters in secure places where children won’t find them.
• Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
• Don’t carry fireworks in a pocket or light them in a metal or glass container.
• If you are an onlooker at a fireworks display, keep a safe distance.
• Never place your body directly over a fireworks device while lighting it.
• Keep a bucket of water handy and a hose to douse fireworks when spent.
• Don’t try to relight a device that hasn’t fully ignited; stay clear of the device for an extended period of time to prevent injury due to delayed activation. Soak the device in water before handling it.
• Make sure the fireworks are legal in the state where you are in during the holidays. For example, if you buy explosive fireworks in Wisconsin, you can’t use them in Minnesota.
• Never experiment with fireworks, make your own fireworks, or alter fireworks in any manner (a strong federal prohibition exists for such activity).

Klein says the officers in St. Joseph do hear reports from outside the city, in the county’s jurisdiction, of fireworks accidents every year. His best advice is to not use fireworks while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Those fireworks which are legal include sparklers, cones and tubes which emit sparks, as well as novelty items like snakes and party poppers. Even so, these items cannot be used on public property such as roads, parks, alleys, schools, government property and more.

Anything which flies or explodes – such as firecrackers, bottle rockets, missiles, Roman candles, mortars, shells and more – is illegal in Minnesota for public sale, possession or use.

Most importantly, Klein says, have fun this weekend, enjoy your family, and don’t drink and drive.