American Medical Response Encourages You to Enjoy Fireworks Safely This Fourth Of July

It is American tradition to celebrate our nation’s birthday on July 4th with parades, cookouts, and, sometimes, fireworks. However, a fun filled celebration can quickly become dangerous when fireworks and other pyrotechnic displays are used improperly or by those not trained to do so safely.

A study by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) shows that across the country more than 200 people go to the emergency room every day with fireworks-related injuries in the time surrounding the Fourth of July.

Dean Anderson with American Medical Response urges you to celebrate and enjoy the upcoming holiday without lighting your own fireworks. While it may seem like a fun activity, many things could go terribly wrong, and attending a public firework display provided in your area can be just as enjoyable and much safer. At these displays, certified and licensed pyrotechnicians are trained and experienced in the safe use of fireworks and will provide an exciting show without the risk of injury.

The following tips should help make a public firework display safer and more enjoyable:

• Stay a safe distance away from where the fireworks are exploding, and wear earplugs if the noises are uncomfortably loud.
• Obey all monitors and ushers, and respect the safety barriers established that allow the trained pyrotechnicians room to safely do their job. Resist any temptation to get close to the actual firing site – in fact, the best view of fireworks is typically from a quarter mile away or more.
• If you do happen to find any pieces that may not have exploded, immediately contact the local fire or police department. Do not touch them, and keep others away.
• Leave pets at home if you attend a firework show. Pets have very sensitive ears and the “booms” and “bangs” associated with firework displays can be quite uncomfortable and scary – particularly to dogs.

For the safety of you and those around you, please leave the lighting of fireworks to the certified operators. Enjoy the Fourth safely, and attend a public display – it will provide the safe kind of excitement.

About American Medical Response

American Medical Response, Inc., America’s leading provider of medical transportation, provides services in 40 states and the District of Columbia. More than 28,000 AMR paramedics, EMTs, RNs and other professionals work together to transport more than 4.8 million patients nationwide each year in critical, emergency and non-emergency situations. AMR also provides fire services through Rural Metro Fire Department, www.ruralmetrofire.com, and managed transportation services through Access2Care, www.access2care.net. AMR is a subsidiary of Global Medical Response, www.GlobalMedicalResponse.com. For more information about AMR, visit www.amr.net and follow American Medical Response on Facebook @AMR_Social on Twitter and Instagram.