Safety Tips for the July 4 Weekend A
MERICANS CELEBRATE INDEPENDENCE DAY ON JULY 4 EVERY year, commemorating the signing of the Declara-
tion of Independence. Fifty-six congressional delegates from the colonies signed the document asserting inde- pendence from England; this was a giant step towards the formation of what we know as the United States of America. Celebrations across the country include band con-
certs, parades, backyard barbeques and, oh yes, fi re- works! Many of us are old enough to remember when these were largely unregulated but those days are long gone. In spite of all the rain we have had this spring, fi re-
works should be used with caution in order to avoid injuries or accidental fi res and consumers should al- ways practice safety when shooting them. Check the legality of various types of fi reworks in your area; the legal limit is 50 mg of explosive material, and Cherry Bombs, M-80s and Silver Salutes typically have more than that, making them illegal. Below are some safety tips from fi
reworkssafety.org.
No matter what your level of experience is with fi re- works, please review them and have a safe celebration. • Obey all local laws regarding the use of fi reworks. • Know your fi reworks; read the cautionary labels and
tscra.org performance descriptions before igniting.
• A responsible adult should supervise all fi rework activities. Never give fi reworks to children.
• Alcohol and fi reworks do not mix. Save your alcohol for after the show.
• Wear safety glasses when shooting fi reworks. • Light one fi rework at a time and then quickly move away.
• Use fi reworks outdoors in a clear area, away from buildings and vehicles.
• Never relight a “dud” fi rework. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
• Always have a bucket of water and charged water hose nearby.
• Never carry fi reworks in your pocket or shoot them into metal or glass containers.
• Do not experiment with homemade fi reworks. • Dispose of spent fi reworks by wetting them down and placing them in a metal trashcan away from any building or combustible materials until the next day.
• FAA regulations prohibit the possession and trans- portation of fi reworks in your checked baggage or carry-on luggage.
• Report illegal explosives, like M-80s and quarter sticks, to the fi re or police department.
July 2016 The Cattleman 45
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100