KCKFD issues fireworks safety tips

KCK Fire Department

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ---- Just in time for the fourth of July, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) released its fireworks report which explores fire and injury dangers related to consumer fireworks. 

The report shows that in 2010 alone, an estimated 15,500 reported fires were started by fireworks and 8,600 fireworks-related injuries were treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms.  It also shows that there are more fires on a typical Fourth of July than any other day of the year.  Fireworks account for two out of five of the fires, more than any other cause.

“Thousands of people are treated in U.S. emergency rooms each year because of incidents involving consumer fireworks and many times these injuries are extremely painful and require long-term recovery – using consumer fireworks is simply not the worth the risk,” said James Shannon, president of NFPA.  “We encourage families to enjoy public displays of fireworks conducted by trained professionals.”

The Fireworks report outlines specific statistics regarding how the use of consumer fireworks relates to fire danger including:

• In 2010, fireworks caused an estimated 15,500 reported fires, including 1,100 structure fires, 300 vehicle fires, and 14,100 outside and other fires.

• These fires resulted in an estimated eight reported deaths, 60civilian injuries and $36 million in direct property damage.

The report demonstrates using consumer fireworks heightens the risk of injury and even death.  The study showed:

• The risk of fireworks injury was highest for children ages 5 – 14 with more than twice the risk for the general population.

• Sparklers and novelties alone accounted for 38 percent of the 8,600 emergency room fireworks injuries in 2010.

The Kansas City Kan., Fire Department offers the following Safety Tips:

• Purchase fireworks from reliable sources, never discharge homemade or illegal fireworks.

• Have a responsible adult in charge and never give fireworks to children.

• Prepare a safe environment outdoors for shooting off fireworks by selecting an area clear of other fireworks, combustible materials like dried wood or grass, buildings, and other people.

• Have water readily available such as a garden hose and a bucket of water.

• Always read and follow label directions for the safe discharge of fireworks.  Fireworks users should wear tight clothing to avoid accidental contact with sparks and use eye protection when handling and lighting fireworks.

• Light fireworks one at a time and wait until it discharges, never attempt to re-light a device that did not discharge the first time it was lit.

• Never carry fireworks in your pocket; they may ignite due to sparks and cause injury.

• Do not throw or point fireworks at people or animals.  Never shoot fireworks in metal or glass containers

• Dispose of spent fireworks properly when you are done by soaking them in water before putting them in a trash can

Safe Kids Kansas to mark "National School Bus Safety Week"

While carpooling is a common practice in many communities, a school bus is the safest way for children to get to school.

Fatal crashes involving school bus occupants are extremely rare events, even though school buses serve children daily in nearly every community. Statistics show getting to and from the bus is actually more dangerous than riding the bus itself.

In the U.S., an average of 13 school-age pedestrians die in school transportation-related traffic crashes each year.

From 2000 to 2009, 130 school-age pedestrians were killed in school transportation-related crashes while 57 were occupants of school transportation vehicles. This means that more than twice as many children were killed while getting on or off the bus than while riding it.

Oct. 22-26 is National School Bus Safety Week– making it a good time to teach children how to stay safer around school buses. This year’s theme is I See the Driver. The Driver Sees Me.

“Remind your children about the 10-foot danger zone around the school bus where the driver can’t see them,” says Cherie Sage, Safe Kids Kansas. “To be sure the bus driver can see them – young children should take at least five giant steps away from the bus while entering or exiting the bus. Older kids who must cross the street should look at the bus driver for an ‘OK’ sign before crossing in front of the bus."

Kids should stand on the grass or sidewalk while waiting for the bus and not enter the street until the driver has opened the door of the bus.

Parents still making five common mistakes when using car seats

SafeKidsKansas.org

Parents are making five critical, but fixable, mistakes when using car seats, according to new data announced by Safe Kids Worldwide and the General Motors Foundation.

With so many safety features now available in both cars and car seats, parents are urged to make sure their kids are getting every advantage by taking the time to do a 15-minute at-home annual checkup.

Seventy-three percent of car seats are not being used correctly.

To find out why, Safe Kids analyzed data from more than 100,000 car seat inspections done by certified technicians conducted through its Buckle Up Program, a national initiative established in 1997 by Safe Kids and supported by General Motors and the General Motors Foundation to keep children and families safe in and around cars.

Some findings proved that progress is being made, including that 98 percent of children arrived at car seat inspections in the back seat and 98 percent of the children were using some type of restraint.

Yet, the data revealed that parents and caregivers still have some work to do to ensure their children are restrained properly.