| Public urged not to use consumer fireworks
June 24, 2008 - Thousands of people are injured by consumer fireworks each year. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and its Alliance to Stop Consumer Fireworks released two video PSAs urging the public not to use consumer fireworks because they are too dangerous.
View the PSAs at www.nfpa.org/fireworks. For broadcast quality video, contact NFPA's Public Affairs Office at publicaffairs@nfpa.org.
According to a recently released NFPA report, fireworks caused an estimated 1800 total structure fires and 700 vehicle fires reported to fire departments in 2005. These fires resulted in $39 million in direct property damage. The NFPA report said U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated more than 9,000 people for fireworks related injuries in 2006.
In a typical year, on the Independence Day holiday, fireworks cause more fires in the U.S. than all other causes of fire combined.
Contact: Lorraine Carli
NFPA Public Affairs Office: +1-617-984-7275
lcarli@nfpa.org
NFPA along with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) founded the Alliance to Stop Consumer Fireworks to warn individuals about the dangers of consumer fireworks. Other members include - American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Association for Hand Surgery, American Association of Public Health Physicians, American Burn Association, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, Center for Injury Research & Policy, Emergency Nurses Association, Fire Department Safety Officers Association, International Association of Arson Investigators, International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Association of Fire Fighters, International Fire Marshals Association, Metropolitan Fire Chiefs, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, National Association of School Nurses, National Association of State Fire Marshals, and Prevent Blindness America.
NFPA has been a worldwide leader in providing fire, electrical, building, and life safety to the public since 1896. The mission of the international nonprofit organization is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training and education. Visit NFPA's Web site at www.nfpa.org. |
