Atlanta, Georgia Personal Injury Lawyer
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Monday, July 6, 2009
Fireworks Accidents Mar Fourth of July Celebrations in NC, PA
Friday, July 3, 2009
Fireworks Safety Tips for a Safe and Healthy 4th of July
Last week the MLN Law Blog wished all of our readers a safe and healthy 4th of July by offering tips on fireworks safety. Luckily, it turns out that Atlantans had a great time celebrating the fourth in public places such as Centennial Park and Lenox Mall and that no major accidents took place.
The residents of Ocracoke Island, located in the Outer Banks section of North Carolina, were not so lucky.
Ocracoke Island is a sparsely inhabited 15-mile long spit of land which is only accessible by plane, boat or ferry. On July 4th, that inaccessibility, which locals and tourists alike cherish, became a detriment when a truck explosion rocked the Ocracoke Island docks.
The truck carried fireworks. Witnesses described the explosion as “about 40 minutes worth of fireworks going off in four seconds.” Two people were killed and three others flown to a hospital on the mainland in critical condition as the result of the blast. One of the fatalities died at the scene while another succumbed to injuries afterward at the hospital. Two firefighters were also treated for smoke inhalation and exhaustion.
A third injured worker was taken to a burn center about 180 miles away in Chapel Hill, NC. As of the latest news he is said to be in fair condition. Other injured workers were taken to the Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greenville, but their conditions were not released.
The truck was the property of Melrose Hill Pyrotechnics out of Rock Hill, South Carolina. The workers involved in the explosion had been slated to put on Ocracoke’s annual 4th of July Fireworks show.
Pictures of the incident, submitted to CNN through their iReport system, can be viewed here.
A man in Pennsylvania was also killed in a fireworks accident over the weekend. As in the Ocracoke Island incident, the 19-year-old victim was an employee of the pyrotechnics company responsible for hosting the show.
The show took place in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. At about 9:45pm one of the fireworks used in the show misfired and debris struck the employee in the neck and chest. While the name of the fireworks company or the exact nature of the fireworks at fault has not been released, this incident just goes to show that even professionals operating with safety precautions can fall victim to fireworks.
How about you? Did you and your family have a safe and healthy Fourth?
The residents of Ocracoke Island, located in the Outer Banks section of North Carolina, were not so lucky.
Ocracoke Island is a sparsely inhabited 15-mile long spit of land which is only accessible by plane, boat or ferry. On July 4th, that inaccessibility, which locals and tourists alike cherish, became a detriment when a truck explosion rocked the Ocracoke Island docks.
The truck carried fireworks. Witnesses described the explosion as “about 40 minutes worth of fireworks going off in four seconds.” Two people were killed and three others flown to a hospital on the mainland in critical condition as the result of the blast. One of the fatalities died at the scene while another succumbed to injuries afterward at the hospital. Two firefighters were also treated for smoke inhalation and exhaustion.
A third injured worker was taken to a burn center about 180 miles away in Chapel Hill, NC. As of the latest news he is said to be in fair condition. Other injured workers were taken to the Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greenville, but their conditions were not released.
The truck was the property of Melrose Hill Pyrotechnics out of Rock Hill, South Carolina. The workers involved in the explosion had been slated to put on Ocracoke’s annual 4th of July Fireworks show.
Pictures of the incident, submitted to CNN through their iReport system, can be viewed here.
A man in Pennsylvania was also killed in a fireworks accident over the weekend. As in the Ocracoke Island incident, the 19-year-old victim was an employee of the pyrotechnics company responsible for hosting the show.
The show took place in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. At about 9:45pm one of the fireworks used in the show misfired and debris struck the employee in the neck and chest. While the name of the fireworks company or the exact nature of the fireworks at fault has not been released, this incident just goes to show that even professionals operating with safety precautions can fall victim to fireworks.
How about you? Did you and your family have a safe and healthy Fourth?
Labels: fireworks safety
Fireworks are one of those products that especially appeal to children while simultaneously posing an inherent danger. They are sparkly and shiny, they move fast and create smoke, and they only show up once a year. Any of these elements would likely attract a child’s attention, but put them all together and you have the ingredients for more than just a snap, crackle and pop.
While Georgia law does allow for the sale of sparklers and other similar non-explosive fireworks, just because something is legal, does not mean it is safe.
Sparklers, widely considered the most innocuous of fireworks, can burn at temperatures as high as 1800 degrees.
In Georgia, only small scale fireworks are allowed, but with many areas cancelling their fireworks shows, many people may be tempted to smuggle fireworks into the state to create shows of their own. Fireworks displays are not exactly an unobtrusive crime and you can rest assured that the law will be strictly enforced.
After all, last year 9,800 injuries were reported from fireworks. If that weren’t hazard enough, on a typical Independence Day there are twice as many fires reported than on a typical day.
Are you planning on adding personal fireworks to your 4th of July celebration? If so, keep these tips from the National Fireworks Safety Council in mind as part of your safe and healthy Independence Day:
1.) Use fireworks outdoors only
2.) Have a hose or water bucket handy in case of fire
3.) Use fireworks only as intended. Never try to combine two different fireworks because you could be in for more than you bargained for
4.) Never relight a “dud” firework. The proper safety precaution to take in this instance is to wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water
5.) Users should wear safety glasses and remain a safe distance from spectators
6.) Just as you use a “Designated Driver” use a “Designated Shooter”
7.) Don’t allow anyone under the age of 12 to use fireworks of any type
8.) Never try to substitute homemade fireworks or illegal explosives. This is an accident waiting to happen
If you follow these tips (or better yet, simply attend a local area fireworks show), the only flashing lights you will see on the 4th are the sparkle of fireworks and not the glare of an ambulance.
Check with the American Pyrotechnics Association for fireworks laws in your state. Remember, fireworks are a fun distraction, but don’t forget to think long and hard about firework safety before lighting that fuse.
The MLN Law blog wishes you and your family and friends a happy 4th of July!
While Georgia law does allow for the sale of sparklers and other similar non-explosive fireworks, just because something is legal, does not mean it is safe.
Sparklers, widely considered the most innocuous of fireworks, can burn at temperatures as high as 1800 degrees.
In Georgia, only small scale fireworks are allowed, but with many areas cancelling their fireworks shows, many people may be tempted to smuggle fireworks into the state to create shows of their own. Fireworks displays are not exactly an unobtrusive crime and you can rest assured that the law will be strictly enforced.
After all, last year 9,800 injuries were reported from fireworks. If that weren’t hazard enough, on a typical Independence Day there are twice as many fires reported than on a typical day.
Are you planning on adding personal fireworks to your 4th of July celebration? If so, keep these tips from the National Fireworks Safety Council in mind as part of your safe and healthy Independence Day:
1.) Use fireworks outdoors only
2.) Have a hose or water bucket handy in case of fire
3.) Use fireworks only as intended. Never try to combine two different fireworks because you could be in for more than you bargained for
4.) Never relight a “dud” firework. The proper safety precaution to take in this instance is to wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water
5.) Users should wear safety glasses and remain a safe distance from spectators
6.) Just as you use a “Designated Driver” use a “Designated Shooter”
7.) Don’t allow anyone under the age of 12 to use fireworks of any type
8.) Never try to substitute homemade fireworks or illegal explosives. This is an accident waiting to happen
If you follow these tips (or better yet, simply attend a local area fireworks show), the only flashing lights you will see on the 4th are the sparkle of fireworks and not the glare of an ambulance.
Check with the American Pyrotechnics Association for fireworks laws in your state. Remember, fireworks are a fun distraction, but don’t forget to think long and hard about firework safety before lighting that fuse.
The MLN Law blog wishes you and your family and friends a happy 4th of July!
Labels: atlanta, child safety, fireworks safety, Georgia
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