Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas –
Fireworks displays will light up the skies in areas around
Joint Base San Antonio locations next week as service members and their
families observe the July Fourth holiday.
While the sight of fireworks shooting and popping up in the
air can provide for a spectacular
display, JBSA Fire Emergency Services officials are urging service members and
their families to be careful and use common sense if they plan to handle or be
around fireworks to celebrate the holiday.
James Smith, JBSA Fire Emergency Services fire prevention
inspector at JBSA-Randolph, said fireworks can cause injuries or property
damage if they are not used properly.
Each year an average of 240 people are taken to hospital
emergency rooms in the U.S. with injuries from fireworks within the month
around Independence Day, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
Smith said the possession and use of fireworks are banned at
JBSA locations and within the city limits of several area cities around JBSA
locations, including San Antonio.
Weather conditions will determine whether or not fireworks
are permitted in unincorporated areas of Bexar County. Service members should
know and follow local laws concerning the possession and use of fireworks.
Smith said he advises JBSA service members and families not
to use fireworks and instead go to a public fireworks display sponsored by
professionals.
But if service members and their families decide to use
fireworks in the areas where it’s legal, he said several precautions need to be
taken to prevent injuries to those who will handle or be near fireworks.
First, children should never be allowed to play with or
ignite fireworks by themselves without adult supervision, Smith said.
The NFPA said that children ages 5 to 14 have the highest
risk of being injured by fireworks.
Fireworks should be lit on a smooth, flat surface away from
a building, house, grass and flammable materials, Smith said. Avoid areas with
dry grass that could catch fire quickly.
Firecrackers should be lit on the ground, not when they are
being handled as to avoid injuries and burns to the hands and other parts of
the body. Before lighting a firecracker,
Smith said individuals should be kept at a safe distance and out of the range
of the fireworks.
If a firecracker doesn’t go off the first time, do not try
and light it again, Smith said.
“If you attempt to light one and it doesn’t go off, don’t
see what’s wrong with it,” he said. “ You don’t know if it’s a dud or whether
it’s a delayed explosion.”
Smith said people should know the type of fireworks they are
using and what they will do, whether they shoot up, spin around or explode.
Make sure a bucket of water, garden hose or fire
extinguisher is accessible in case of a fire.
Smith said firecrackers should never be lit inside homes and
vehicles.
He said fireworks should not be thrown or used like a weapon
by pointing them at individuals or property.
Do not light them in metal or glass containers or put them in a fire
pit, where the sparks and embers could shoot out, possibly injuring and harming
people in the vicinity.
Follow the weather conditions, such as if it’s dry or windy,
to determine if it would be safe to use fireworks in those conditions, Smith
said. Never drink alcohol when handling and setting off fireworks and purchase
the fireworks from a reliable, licensed fireworks dealer.
Smith said common sense is essential in making sure
individuals use fireworks responsibly.
“If it doesn’t look right or feel right, don’t do it,” he
said.
For more information about fireworks safety visit the NFPA
website at http://www.nfpa.org/education or call the JBSA Fire Prevention
offices at JBSA-Randolph, 652-6915; JBSA Lackland, 671-2921; and JBSA-Fort Sam
Houston, 221-2727.