Latest Fireworks Stories

The United States' Independence Day celebrations bring an annual warning from doctors -- leave the fireworks to professionals. Fourth of July fireworks always draw a crowd but those beautiful bursts of color can lead to catastrophic injuries if not used with care, Dr. James C. Krieg, spokesman of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, said. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says last year more than 15,000 fireworks-related injuries were treated -- 8,000 involving children...

An $8 million city deficit has killed the July Fourth fireworks display in Coral Gables, Fla., but officials say other Miami-area festivities will proceed. The Coral Gables fireworks show drew thousands to the Biltmore Hotel golf course until 2006 when repairs canceled the event, and now the city's budget woes are forcing its cancellation. In West Miami, the Independence Day celebration has been canceled for the second straight year, The Miami Herald reported. Given the present set of...

Orthopaedic surgeons provide safety tips for Fourth of July celebrations ROSEMONT, Ill., June 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Fourth-of-July fireworks always draw a crowd but those beautiful bursts of color can lead to catastrophic injuries if not used with care. This Independence Day, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) advises Americans to enjoy the spectacular celebrations but urges adults and children to exercise extreme caution by leaving fireworks to the...

Company Awards $1,000 to Independence Day at Maunalua Bay Foundation HONOLULU, June 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Hawaii American Water, which provides wastewater treatment for approximately 35,000 people in Oahu's Hawaii Kai community, will pay for one of the $500 student scholarships offered annually by the Independence Day at Maunalua Bay Foundation. The company will contribute an additional $500 to the Foundation's second-annual July 4th fireworks celebration, making it the only public utility...

MANHATTAN, Kan., June 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Fireworks are a popular way to celebrate the Fourth of July, whether shooting them off from the backyard or watching a professional display. While there are many reasons why fireworks are so enjoyed on Independence Day, tradition and their dangerous side could be part of their attraction for some of us, according to two Kansas State University psychologists. Holidays, weddings and birthdays are occasions that tend to bring out the most...

The American Chemical Society says Fourth of July fireworks across the United States, as well as July 1 for Canada Day observances, might go green. The ACS says a new generation of green fireworks is quietly making its way toward the sky -- green as in environmentally friendly. Fireworks, flares and other pyrotechnics traditionally have included potassium perchlorate as the oxidizer, a material that provides the oxygen that fireworks need to burn, the society said. However, perchlorate is an...

VALDOSTA, Ga., June 23 /PRNewswire/ -- How long can you hold your breath? Magical entertainer Aaron Radatz hopes he can hold his long enough to escape from a wooden packing crate at the bottom of Wild Adventures' lake July 4 and 5 at 7:30 p.m. FREEDOM: An Underwater Escape has never been attempted in the region, and the death defying stunt is part of Wild Adventures' All American Weekend, which also includes explosive nightly fireworks choreographed to a dynamic and patriotic...

Sixteen percent of all consumer fireworks injuries are caused by sparklers burning hands and legs, a U.S. fireworks safety advocacy group says. The National Council on Fireworks Safety says many of the injuries would not have occurred if there had been close adult supervision and if some basic safety steps had been taken. Most of the sparkler injuries involve young children. The organization advises that: -- Children under age 12 should not use sparklers without very close adult...

With millions of people in the United States eagerly awaiting those July 4 fireworks displays "” and our Canadian neighbors doing likewise for their July 1 Canada Day celebrations "” here's a prospect for those light shows of the future likely to ignite a smile on Mother Nature's face: A new generation of "green" fireworks is quietly making its way toward the sky.That's "green" as in environmentally friendly.Fireworks, flares and other so-called...

Sparklers Are Safe When Used Correctly WASHINGTON, June 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Using sparklers on our nation's birthday is as traditional as cookouts and swimming and is equally safe if a few common sense rules are followed. But according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission ("CPSC"), approximately 16% of all consumer fireworks injuries are caused by sparklers burning hands and legs, with the majority of sparkler injuries occurring to young children. These are injuries that would not...