Published: July 02, 2008 05:24 pm         

Fireworks and what you need to know to say safe on July Fourth

Health Watch By Steve Mullenix

The North Jefferson News



Summer is here, and what comes to one’s mind is hot weather, trips to the beach, cookouts and fireworks.

What would the Fourth of July be without fireworks?

While the explosions in the sky can be a festive treat, fireworks are not without dangers.

Statistics show that 6,400 injuries were treated in hospital emergency rooms in 2006 during the one month surrounding the Fourth of July.

It’s also important to realize that all fireworks are not created equally.

While most fireworks explode, sparklers can burn for up to a minute. The longer production of sparks is exciting for children. Children are often given a lighted sparkler and allowed to run and wave it around to their delight.

Did you realize that sparklers burn at temperatures over 1,200 degrees? Combining three sparklers can produce the heat of a blow torch. That is enough heat to easily result in third degree burns.

However, the greater danger is eye injuries resulting from fireworks. Eyes are the second most common injured body part, and can often be the most devastating.

In 2006, there were an estimated 1,500 fireworks related eye injuries treated within the one-month period around the Forth of July.

These injuries are easily prevented. The best defense against a child suffering severe eye injuries and burns is to not let him/her play with fireworks. However, should an injury occur, the following six steps could help save the child’s sight.

1. Do not rub the eye: Rubbing the eye may increase bleeding or make the injury worse.

2. Do not attempt to rinse out the eye: This can be even more damaging than rubbing.

3. Do not apply pressure to the eye: Hold or tape a foam cup or the bottom of a juice carton over the eye. This will protect the eye from further contact with any thing including the child’s hand.

4. Do not stop for medication: Over-the-counter pain relievers will not do much to relieve the pain. Get the child to the Emergency Room FAST. This is more important than giving them any medications.

5. Do not apply ointments: Ointments, which are not sterile, may increase the likelihood of infection. It also will make the area harder for the physician at the hospital to examine.

6. Do not let your children play with fireworks: Even if his/her friends are setting them off, the best prevention is to let them stand and watch from a distance. Better yet, attend a display put on by professionals.

Fireworks are a tradition and have been around for a long time.

Completing fireworks colors is a complex endeavor, requiring art and a lot of physical science. The colors displayed by fireworks are not random. They require a unique combination of chemicals. Let’s clear up the mystery of what make the colors:

• Red - Strontium and lithium salts

• Orange – Calcium

• Gold – Iron, carbon and charcoal

• Yellow – Sodium compounds

• White– Magnesium, or aluminum

• Green – Barium and chlorine compounds

• Blue – Copper and chlorine compounds

• Purple – Strontium and copper

• Silver – Aluminum, titanium and magnesium powder



Here are some interesting firework facts:

•The first fireworks were probably made in China, around 2,000 years ago.

• Italy and France were the first European countries to embrace fireworks in the 1300s.

• Captain John Smith was the first person to set off fireworks in America.

• Colored fireworks did not exist until 1800.

• More than two-thirds of all fireworks related injuries occur in July.

• One out of every three people injured by fireworks is under 15 years old.

• The most common injuries occur to the hands, eyes, head, face, and ears.

• Sparklers account for one-third of all fireworks injuries.

• More than one-third of fireworks injuries result from illegal fireworks.

As beautiful and exciting as they are, the potential trip to the emergency room resulting from fireworks injury can be even more exciting.

A little common sense can go a long way in preventing injuries.

Steve Mullenix (R.Ph) co-owns The Pharmacy in Mount Olive with his wife, Sherry Mullenix (J.D., R.N.). They can be reached at 631-1201.