BlogHer - Fireworks: Fun or Dangerous? - Comments

Fireworks in the city

LizzieH — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 07:40:41 -0500

I grew up in a city (Brooklyn, NY), and fireworks were illegal, but that didn't mean they were hard to come by! When I think about how my family - and the whole neighborhood - celebrated the 4th, I'm amazed that we never had an injury and never accidently burned anyone's house down! I have very fond memories of those times, but I will definitely NOT be repeating those traditions myself.

I wrote about the whole crazy scene on my blog today:

http://inventingmylife.blogspot.com/2008/07/times-have-changedthoughts-of-family-on.html

I also posted it here on BlogHer.

--Liz

I blog about creating a life worth living at: www.inventingmylife.blogspot.com

Yep, black cats are in danger on Halloween

Denise — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 02:45:42 -0500

My son has a black cat and is always mindful not to let her out anytime during the last week of October. He's heard teens do a lot of talking about black cats and doesn't want his cat to be a victim.

~Denise
Fast Times @ Homeschool High & Flamingo House Happenings

4th of July and Halloween

A Elliot — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 20:00:57 -0500

I always keep my pets indoors on the 4th of July and Halloween in the evening. Lunatics aside (my heart is pounding from A Wild Ride's post), all the noise from the fireworks and all the sounds from kids trick or treating can really stress an animal out. I turn the TV on in a feeble attempt to mute the noise from outside, and I make sure that there are plenty of dishes of water around because the stress can make them pant. Of course if we're there, we make sure to pet the animals to keep them calm. We have two kids though so we tend to be in and out. I remember in the past that the Humane Society advised keeping animals indoors on Halloween just because people can be really cruel particularly to black cats.
A. Elliot

I know what you mean Erica

Denise — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 18:17:32 -0500

If they're legal, then ok - but having them go off for weeks before and after is just annoying, and totally ruins the "effect" of having them on one (or two) really special days a year.

~Denise
Fast Times @ Homeschool High & Flamingo House Happenings

I didn't grow up in the country

Denise — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 18:16:20 -0500

I did, however, grow up in a state where they weren't illegal anywhere. :-)

~Denise
Fast Times @ Homeschool High & Flamingo House Happenings

Crazy animals

Denise — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 18:15:25 -0500

I always feel bad saying this but I say it anyway - "I'm glad my old dogs are deaf, it makes 4th of July and New Years much nicer around here."

~Denise
Fast Times @ Homeschool High & Flamingo House Happenings

Fireworks are dangerous and animals hate em!

Bloggeroo — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 17:25:43 -0500

I'm in the fireworks are dangerous camp. Not only do I think they are dangerous to humans, but I suspect they drive animals crazy. Also, I'm not surprised at all that (young) males are disproportionately hurt by fireworks; men die of accidents at a much higher rate than women because they're encouraged and allowed to "take risks" as a way of proving their masculinity.

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Everything can be turned into something dangerous

sugarplum07 — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 14:09:09 -0500

As a kid I thought it was great fun to set off fireworks. When my daughter is born we'll probably buy some small firecrackers for her to play with (supervised of course). For now Iâ€™d really rather just go downtown and watch the professional fireworks.

I still live in an area where fireworks are legal although legally theyâ€™re only supposed to be used on the 4th of July the reality is that my neighborhood sounds like a war zone two weeks before the 4th and two weeks after. I donâ€™t mind that theyâ€™re legal I just wish people would respect the fact that others need to work in the morning and not shell the house at midnight and two am for a month. At 6am Saturday morning my boyfriend and I woke up to four very loud explosions â€“ not horribly neighborly if you ask me.

If they would actually restrict their bombings to the fourth and maybe new years I would know to sedate the dogs for those two days and keep them in the house - itâ€™s not a big deal. I don't want to ruin someoneâ€™s celebration, but until everyone follows the rules I'm forced to stay home every night lest my malamute starts pulling the siding off the house to try and get in (Heâ€™s never actually done that but he does run around the yard too scared to even drink water because he doesnâ€™t want to turn his back on the kids setting off the fireworks.) My husky takes it pretty well (sheâ€™s too stupid to be scared) â€“ The malamute on the other hand has had an extremely bad experience in the past with kids actually lighting a whole package of â€œblack catsâ€ and lobbing it at him. Now every year my 120-pound dog shakes like a shell shocked Vietnam Vet at even the tiniest â€œpopâ€ and he hates little boys.

Erica
Mom's Journal

Yup, they do

nelle2nelle — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 17:14:49 -0500

Kids can get injured in just about every conceivable way. I broke my toe somewhere around the age of 10, I stepped out of the bath, slipped on the floor, and my left little toe caught the corner of the wall.

I've seen people (two kids) suffer head injuries on bicycles thrice, and other than Kels convulsing for low glucose levels, nothing scared me more.

As with anything, if we get stupid, we get hurt.

nelle

Definitely dangerous

kperfetto — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 17:05:23 -0500

Maybe it's more a result of my growing up in the city where (here's where my total lack of knowledge comes in) the "big booming things in your backyard" are illegal , but I don't see how anyone would allow a child to play with fireworks, supervised or not.

All my memories of the 4th are tied to going down to the Landing and watching the fireworks over the Arch. From a safe distance.

Five Dollar Camera

Hypnotizing Chickens

ewww pretty and dangerous at the same time!

Denise — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 16:25:17 -0500

I grew up thinking sparklers were for babies and 'safe' - but tons and tons of little kids get injured by them every year. TW dislikes them. heh

~Denise
Fast Times @ Homeschool High & Flamingo House Happenings

Sparklers for me

nelle2nelle — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 16:17:34 -0500

As usual, wimpy old me was not really big on go boom fireworks. I did like sparklers and bottle rockets, but mostly sparklers. Both of my daughters had sparklers, always under our direct supervision. It is kewl to throw sparkers in a campfire and watch them ignite in the fire.

nelle

Fireworks: Fun or Dangerous?

Denise — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 08:09:04 -0500

When I was a kid, we played with fireworks. Shocking, I know. Secretly, I like sparklers but most of my friends said they were boring. Secretly, I thought firecrackers were boring while most of my friends loved them. I preferred bottle rockets or roman candles above all others. My children are disgruntled with me because I will not buy them fireworks and they try the "But you did it when you were a kid" argument which just frustrates me and doesn't get them their own package of firecrackers or bottle rockets to play with.

Project Disaster has safety tips and injury statistics.

* About 60% of all fireworks-related injuries in 2005 occurred between June 18 and July 18. During that time period:
*about 45% of persons injured from fireworks were children ages 14 years and younger;
* males were injured by fireworks more than twice as often as females;
* and children ages 10 to 14 years had the highest injury rate for fireworks-related injuries
* persons who are actively participating in fireworks-related activities are more frequently injured, and sustain more severe injuries, than bystanders.

Elizabeth at A Wild Ride share's to remind us that even if we aren't actively participating in the fireworks frenzy, there could still be dangers.

My husband, four-year-old daughter, and I were now strolling toward the shore in another part of the island, relaxing far from the crowds, enjoying our time together. I was happily pregnant with our youngest. All of a sudden, a young man, who seemed to be embracing the gleeful lunacy of the 4th of July, lobs a small firecracker â€“ from atop a truck bed â€“ hooting and shouting, down the street and directly through my little one's short, little girl legs.

The PetsitUSA blog reminds us to keep pets safe during 4th of July fireworks celebrations:

Please donâ€™t be one of the people who loses their pet this year on Independence Day! Whether youâ€™re going out to enjoy the festivities or plan to stay home, take time to ensure your petsâ€™ safety. Keeping them indoors is best. Donâ€™t assume that your dog who lives in the backyard will stay there. Some dogs who wouldnâ€™t normally climb over, or dig under, a fence will do just that when terror sets in. And, itâ€™s not just dogsâ€¦fireworks can frighten cats as well, so make provisions for them too.

If you're a parent who chooses to buy consumer fireworks to help your kids celebrate 4th of July, be sure to visit the National Council on Fireworks Safety website. Take the quiz with your kids. Watch the video. Talk about the safety tips together.

* Always read and follow label directions.
* Have an adult present.
* Buy from reliable sellers.
* Use outdoors only.
* Always have water handy (a garden hose and a bucket).
* Never experiment or make your own fireworks.
* Light only one firework at a time.
* Never re-light a "dud" firework (wait 15 to 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water).
* Never give fireworks to small children.
* If necessary, store fireworks in a cool, dry place.
* Dispose of fireworks properly by soaking them in water and then disposing of them in your trashcan.
* Never throw or point fireworks at other people.
* Never carry fireworks in your pocket.
* Never shoot fireworks in metal or glass containers.
* The shooter should always wear eye protection and never have any part of the body over the firework.
* Stay away from illegal explosives.

Have you blogged your happy fireworks memories or your fireworks fears?

~~Denise
Flamingo House Happenings and Fast Times @ Homeschool High