Sheriff Urges Fireworks Safety

With the 4th of July upon us, the Park County Sheriff’s office is reminding residents that while celebrating the birthday of our nation with consumer fireworks is a tradition, it can also lead to tragedy if not done so safely.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 240 people on average go the emergency room every day with fireworks-related injuries in the month around the July 4th holiday. Sheriff Scott Steward says that most injuries surrounding the use of consumer fireworks could have been prevented if they had been used under close adult supervision.
Jerry Parker, Park County Fire District 2 Administrator, says that there are some common sense rules that must be followed to ensure that no one gets hurt while shooting off fireworks.

The National Council on Fireworks Safety and Consumer Products Safety Commission say that even sparklers, which are considered a minor firework, are responsible for over 31% of all fireworks injuries each year, because they burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees.