{"id":23454,"date":"2011-06-30T20:46:00","date_gmt":"2011-07-01T00:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/miserybay.usanethosting.com\/wordpress\/?p=23454"},"modified":"2011-06-30T20:46:00","modified_gmt":"2011-07-01T00:46:00","slug":"tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/archive1\/tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips on fireworks safety"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s almost the fourth of July which means picnics, patriotism, and fireworks. Fireworks can be fun and beautiful; however fireworks can also be dangerous and illegal. Your BBB along with The Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Council on Fireworks Safety offer the following safety tips to ensure a safe Fourth of July:
\nAlways read and follow label directions
\n\u00b7 Have an adult present.
\n\u00b7 Buy from reliable, established sellers.
\n\u00b7 Use outdoors only.
\n\u00b7 Always have water handy (a garden hose and a bucket).
\n\u00b7 Never experiment or make your own fireworks.
\n\u00b7 Light only one firework at a time.
\n\u00b7 Never re-light a “dud” firework (wait 15 to 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water).
\n\u00b7 Never give fireworks to small children.
\n\u00b7 If necessary, store fireworks in a cool, dry place.
\n\u00b7 Dispose of fireworks properly by soaking them in water and then disposing of them in your trashcan.
\n\u00b7 Never throw or point fireworks at other people.
\n\u00b7 Never carry fireworks in your pocket.
\n\u00b7 Never shoot fireworks in metal or glass containers.
\n\u00b7 The shooter should always wear eye protection and never have any part of the body over the firework.
\n\u00b7 Stay away from illegal explosives.
\n\u00b7 Use legal fireworks only.
\nIn Michigan, certain fireworks are legal and the public may purchase them without a permit. Certain other kinds of fireworks, however, are illegal or require special permits that allow pyrotechnic experts to do the spectacular public fireworks displays that we enjoy at fairs and special occasions. The State Fire Marshal has prepared the following list that makes it easy for consumers to distinguish between legal and illegal fireworks:
\nLegal Fireworks<\/strong> (No permit required):
\n\u00b7 Flat paper caps – containing not more than .25 of a grain of explosive content per cap.
\n\u00b7 Toy noise makers – toy pistols, toy cannons, toy canes, toy trick noise makers, and toy guns in which paper caps are used.
\n\u00b7 Sparklers – containing no more than .0125 pounds of burning portion per sparkler.
\n\u00b7 Flitter sparklers – in paper tubes not exceeding 1\/8 inch in diameter.
\n\u00b7 Cone and cylinder fountains – emits showers of sparks.
\n\u00b7 Toy snakes – not containing mercury and packed no more than 12 per box.
\n\u00b7 Toy smoke devices.
\nFireworks that do not fit the above exceptions are illegal for sale, use, or transportation without a permit. Violators are guilty of a misdemeanor.
\nExamples of illegal fireworks\/explosives in Michigan<\/strong> (This list is not all inclusive):
\n\u00b7 Cherry Bomb – A small red sphere approximately 1″ in diameter.
\n\u00b7 Comet (or Mine) – A cylinder containing a star and attached to a wooden base. Upon ignition, the star is thrust 50-100 feet in the air and continues to glow as it falls to the ground.
\n\u00b7 Firecracker – A small noisemaking cylinder up to 1.5″ in length, often strung together with a fuse.
\n\u00b7 M-80 – Up to 2″ in length, usually a red cylinder with a fuse coming out the side. This is not a firework; it is a federally banned explosive.
\n\u00b7 Bottle Rockets – A cylinder, frequently topped by a cone to stabilize its flight, attached to a long stick.
\n\u00b7 Roman Candles – A 6-12″ tube containing alternating layers of compacted black powder that shoots single stars out of the top when lighted.
\n\u00b7 Silver Salute (M-100) – A silver cylinder with a fuse coming out of the side containing large quantities of flash powder. This is not a firework; it is a federally banned explosive.
\n\u00b7 M-250 and M-1000 (quarter-stick) – Large versions of the M-80 and M-100 that have extremely high risk factors for crippling and disfiguring injuries. This is not a firework; it is a federally banned explosive.
\n\u00b7 Torch – A 6-12″ tube filled with colored material and ending in a handle. When ignited, streams of colors come out of the top of the tube.
\n\u00b7 Wheel-type Device – A firework that spins or twirls is a “wheel” and thus is neither a “cylindrical fountain” nor a “cone fountain.”
\nGenerally, anything that explodes loudly or leaves the ground is illegal in Michigan.
\nCommercial-grade private fireworks displays in Michigan also require a permit from the local government unit where the proposed display will be conducted. If you are traveling, you should know that five states ban all consumer fireworks: Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island. Six states allow only sparklers and\/or other novelty items: Arizona, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, and Vermont.
\nFor more information regarding firework regulations and safety, visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the National Council on Firework Safety or the Michigan Attorney General\u2019s Office. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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