Fireworks

Fireworks shows light up the night sky on the Fourth of July. Last year there were approximately 9,600 people who were injured from fireworks and treated in hospitals and 4 people died, according to a Norman press release. Children ages 5 to 14 years old are have the highest risk for fireworks related injury, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Darian Johnson’s first experience with fireworks was at 14 years old. Johnson accidentally started a fire in a field and put the fire out by himself. “I have a lot of respect for bottle rockets and for firecrackers in general,” Johnson said. “We used to have Roman candle fights and peoples’ shirts would get caught on fire. We never thought anything of it. I don’t use them as toys anymore. I try to be very cautious.” Before the Independence day celebrations began the National Council on Fireworks Safety released a list of safety tips. The firework safety tips included having a water hose or bucket ready, to be sober when shooting fireworks, never relighting “dud” fireworks, and to supervise children who are using fireworks. Authorities encourages people to be extremely cautious. “Any fireworks that you have, supervised or not, even parents that are standing right next to a kid with fireworks is just like having that parent somewhere else because you never know when that firework is actually going to go off or if it is going to work properly,” David C. Randolph III, fire inspector, said. The Norman Fire Department encourages citizens to view professional pyro technic shows instead of shooting off fireworks and reminds the public that it is illegal to shoot off consumer fireworks within city limits.

A child plays with a sparkler while her parents are nearby.