Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston –
Firework displays are an integral part of celebrating the
nation’s birthday. The Fourth of July occurs during the Summer Safety Campaign,
which runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
The Joint Base San Antonio Safety Office wants to encourage
everyone to relax and have a good time while watching the colorful
awe-inspiring displays bursting in the night, but don’t forget to continue to
practice risk management when handling fireworks to avoid a mishap that could
put a damper on your holiday revelry.
JBSA Safety officials caution extra vigilance from Memorial
Day to Labor Day because more lives are lost during the summer months than any
other time of the year:
Occupational safety data from May to September 2015 shows
the Air Force had 13 fatalities, the Army had 39 fatalities and the Navy had 26
fatalities.
This Independence Day, follow a few easy rules offered by
the Bexar County Fire Marshal’s Office to make your fireworks experience a safe
one:
• Never allow young children to play with or ignite
fireworks.
• Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities.
Parents don’t realize that young children can suffer injuries from sparklers.
Sparklers burn at temperatures of approximately 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit – hot
enough to melt some metals.
• Avoid buying fireworks packaged in brown paper. This is
often a sign the fireworks were made for professional displays and could pose a
danger to consumers.
• Select an area free of dry grasses and other dead
vegetation.
• Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of
fire or other mishap.
• Wear eye protection and never place any part of your body
directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse.
• Light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly.
• Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in
metal or glass containers.
• Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not
ignited fully. If a firework does not work properly, wait 15 to 20 minutes and
then soak it in a bucket of water and dispose of it properly.
• Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
• Store fireworks in a cool, dry place.
• After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent
device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding it to
prevent a trash fire.
• Never experiment or make your own fireworks. Make sure you
only use fireworks purchased from a reliable licensed seller.
• Do not use fireworks when the weather forecast calls for
winds above 10 mph.
• Always read and follow manufacturers’ recommendations and
instructions.
• Only use fireworks outdoors. It is against state law to
shoot fireworks from a motor vehicle.
• Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying
or using them.
• It is illegal to discharge fireworks within 600 feet of a
hospital, sanitarium, veterinary hospital, school or church; or within 100 feet
of a fuel dispensing station for flammable or combustible liquids; and to
discharge fireworks at or from a motor vehicle.
• Arson charges can be brought against a person who
recklessly causes a fire, regardless of the person’s intent. Residents of San
Antonio should be reminded that it is against the law to possess, use or
transport fireworks in the City of San Antonio without a permit. Violations are
Class C misdemeanors, punishable by fines from $100 to $2,000.
• Residents who see unsafe or illegal uses of fireworks
should call 335-FIRE. Medical emergencies or fires caused by fireworks should
be reported by calling 911.
To get involved in the JBSA Summer Safety Campaign, contact
the JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Safety Office at 221-4543 or
USAF.JBSA.502-ABW.MBX.SafetyOffice@mail.mil; the JBSA-Lackland Safety Office at
671-5028 or 502abw.se.jbsa-lak@us.af.mil; or the JBSA-Randolph Safety Office at
652-1842 or 502abw.olb.ground.safety@us.af.mil.
For additional, go to the Air Force Safety Center website at
Air Force Safety Center at http://www.afsec.af.mil/ or the JBSA safety website
at http://www.jbsa.mil/Resources/Safety.aspx.