Safety first on the Fourth of July

As the Independence Day holiday approaches, the sizzle, twirling and boom of fireworks will be a common sound throughout the community.
Citizens are reminded of state and local ordinances regarding the use of fireworks. The rules in place are to protect the public from unnecessary personal injury and property damage.
Last year, the Office of the State Fire Marshal [OSFM] requested data from Illinois hospital and emergency treatment centers to determine various facts about injuries associated with fireworks.
During seasonal [July] reporting, 89 facilities across Illinois voluntarily reported 163 injuries during 2020. One year earlier there were 126 injuries reported by 56 hospitals.
Of the 163 people injured in 2020, nearly half suffered multiple injuries. The majority of those injured were male [120] and over half were age 22 and older.
The data provided to OSFM further notes the number of children [age 11-16] nearly doubled from 2019 to 2020 from 12 to 23.
More than 50% of injuries affected the hands, 27% were injuries to the head/face and 13% to the legs.
The leading type of injury was second degree burns, followed by first degree burns, and abrasions and lacerations.
Data further indicates injuries resulting in dismemberment/amputation increased in 2020 to 19 compared to 12 the prior year.
The fire marshal’s report states, “the reported injuries were related to a wide variety of fireworks with mortars [26%] and unknown type [20%] listed as the most frequent type of fireworks or pyrotechnic effect involved in injury.”
OSFM data further notes sparklers resulted in 19% of injuries, followed by roman candles, bottle rockets and salutes. As well as, handheld, firecrackers and homemade devices.
“It appears the COVID cancellations affected the fireworks season and increased the at home or do-it-yourself injuries,” the report states.
The office of the state fire marshal prohibits all consumer fireworks. Prohibited fireworks include, but are not limited to, bottle and sky rockets, firecrackers of any size or type, roman candles, chasers, buzz bombs, helicopters, planes, missiles, pinwheels, ground items and hand held fireworks, as well as sky lanterns, a type of balloon that requires fire underneath to propel it upwards.
Each year local police departments receive an exorbitant number of firework complaints in the days leading up to and following the holiday. Coal City residents who observe unsafe activities should call the Coal City Police Department’s non-emergency number at 815-634-2341.
When it comes to fireworks, the village code states:
“No person shall discharge or set off any fireworks, or give or exhibit any pyrotechnic displays in the village, except public displays which are licensed my be given at any time permitted by the license.”
“No public exhibition of fireworks or pyrotechnics shall be given unless a permit therefor is secured from the chief of police. All such public displays shall be under the supervision of a competent person and shall be superintended by the chief of police or some member of the police department assigned to this duty by the chief of police.”
“No person, firm or cooperation shall discharge or set off in the village or keep in the village with the intention of doing so, any firecracker, toy cannon; canes for exploding potash, sulfur, or other dangerous explosives; so called “Chinese bombs,” or “American bombs,” torpedoes, paper balloons, or sky rockets except for public pyrotechnic display under proper supervision.”
Local residents are encouraged to attend an authorized fireworks display. Wilmington will have fireworks at the North Island Park starting after dusk on Friday, July 2 and there will be fireworks at the Grundy County Fairgrounds beginning at dusk on Saturday, July 3.
The non-profit Illinois Fire Safety Alliance reports health and safety officials say its vital the public understands the risks and long-term effects fireworks can pose to individuals, pets and combat veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.