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di's Insite
Fire Works!
You knew that, didn't you? OK, so I got you here; now let's talk some serious fireworks! Fireworks have been around for decades. There is documentation that fireworks were on James Cook's Second Pacific voyage in 1772. The 1998 Olympic Closing Ceremony in Nagano, Japan was viewed by millions. There were 5000 shells fired in that eight minute display. Here is a web site that has excellent photos of that display, and some daylight setup pictures of it also. There are five pages of very interesting photos and information about all facets of the show: http://japan-fireworks.com/nagano/enaganospecial.html.
With the oncoming holiday celebrations, fireworks are inevitable. If all the states outlawed what most Americans expect to see at celebrations, there would be black markets for fireworks. We just can't seem to imagine our Fourth especially, without fireworks! There is something magical about them. I remember as a child looking forward to the oncoming dark on our family's excursion to the state fairgrounds for the fireworks celebration. With much anticipation, I watched the sky for the first explosion and joined the throngs of "ooooohs and ahs!"
Millions of pounds of fireworks will go off this week. Each year the number used has increased. Amazingly enough, injuries caused by them has decreased. Perhaps its the news of fires and drought in the United States that has made us more aware of the dangers. Or the safety lessons by our Fire Marshals have sunk in our communities. Regardless, someone, somewhere will be injured by fireworks by simply not obeying the safety rules. It seems simple enough: Don't put off fireworks in a dry area and always have water/hose/buckets/wet towels nearby. Don't pick up or relight a dud, a firework that didn't go off. Never ignite fireworks in a metal or glass container. Don't make your own fireworks--buy them at a licensed retailer. Never throw them at another person or animal. Never give to small children and have Adult supervision at all times. And last but not least, Read the Instructions!
Now I know the women will agree with me that men hate reading instructions! And they love fireworks! What worries me is the sight I have seen of small children being given those sparklers. I know, those sparklers are an American right---expected by every child on the fourth of July. It's like forbidding Santa Claus to not give a child a sparkler! However, I hope some will listen this year and use some common sense. Teach them while standing close by to hold the sparkler away from clothing. Have a wet cloth nearby and a bucket of water. Children do get burned by those. An expert recommended that fireworks for kids include those that can be safely back away from after igniting. Such fireworks, with adult supervision of course, are called "tanks, chickens, big trucks, and dragons." Fireworks, called "Fountains" don't explode right away so gives the kids time to back away and enjoy the display too.
There are ground-based and aerial fireworks. There are several types of ground-based fireworks - roman candles, sparklers, mortars, multi-shot items, fountains, and firecrackers, as well as some specialty items such as tanks or an aircraft carrier. There are primarily two types of aerial fireworks - stickrockets and missiles with fins or rudders. All of these, when used as directed, can be enjoyed safely but some of these are best left to the experts with licenses.
I don't know about you, but I just don't have a lot of money to spend on fireworks, though I enjoy watching them. For those of you who just have to have some of your own but only want to spend minimal amounts, here is a suggestion I found on another site (http://texasfireworkssafety.com/): For $100 you can have a nifty display for kids with sparklers, packaged deals where you get more for your money, and fountains. If there will be no children around, then you can, with safety precautions used, buy those called Artillery Shells that crackle and whistle, multishots called Space Fleet, to give your display height and show. Lightening them one at a time will make your show last about an hour.
Here is a good warning to remember: It also has been a little known fact that those plastic chairs used for observing the fireworks are a risk too. They can ignite an electric match by their static charge. It is recommended now that they not be used during the show's preparations. How many families who set up their own fireworks know that?
Laws vary from state to state. There are college courses offered on pyrotechnics. In Texas, Pyrotechnic operator licenses cost around $25 but there is an exam supplemented by a demonstration and you must have assisted at five demonstrations at least, and be 21 years of age.
Here, you can purchase fireworks at the age of 12. You must be 16 years old to sell them! They can only be distributed during certain times of the year here: June 24-July4th and December 20-January 1st. I know others who buy them during this period but store them for use at other times like family picnics or celebrations. I don't know of anyone who has been fined or arrested for setting off fireworks outside the city limits in the country farmland areas.
Though cities have their own laws and regulations regarding fireworks, some subdivisions do too. Home owner associations may prohibit them. Outside the city, parks have rules too. But on private property, away from the residential areas, fireworks go mostly unnoticed except for the observers there for the celebration. Bottle rockets have been popular in a lot of celebrations nationally.
If you want to know how the pros set up a display safely, see this site: http://www.wf.net/~lcrump1/display.htm. For those of you interested in International Fireworks competition and displays, posters and other sites, see: http://www.wf.net/~lcrump1/news.htm for a lot of good links! There is even a link there for watching a fireworks display on your Realplayer™.
The Texas Pyrotechnic Association said this about bottle rockets:
'"Bottle Rockets" are the smallest, most inexpensive version of stickrockets and were prohibited from sale by the Texas legislature several years ago.
These days, the rockets sold at stands during the holiday are referred to as stickrockets. The difference in these items and bottlerockets is the size of the rocket and the potential altitude reached. There was a general concern that bottlerockets did not gain sufficient altitude and, as a result, were not sufficiently extinguished before they fell to the ground.
The Texas Pyrotechnic Association drafted and supported legislation to prohibit these items from sale in Texas even though they continue to be on the list of approved items nationally. This effort resulted in a reduction of over 90% in the number of fireworks-related fires from previous years.
I urge you all to be careful this summer holiday season and practice safety in using fireworks or being near them. Have a wonderful celebration and make family memories for your children full of awe!
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© 2000 di
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