Firework Safety – An Overview from a Personal Injury Law Firm
Written by Cooper & Friedman PLLC on July 2, 2022
With 4th of July celebrations approaching, safety and information are more important for wellbeing than ever. While the holiday draws in family, friends, good food, and exciting light shows, it also invites trips to the emergency room and unintended consequences from seemingly harmless – yet very common – firework products.
In the 2021 Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Fireworks Report, only 1 of 9 non-occupational, firework-related deaths were ruled due to a product malfunction. Of the 11,500 injuries, distinction between misuse and malfunction is often limited due to lack of evidence and acceptance of risks beforehand, making personal injury lawsuits abundant, but sometimes unattainable.
To avoid having to feed in to any firework-related statistics, several factors should be taken into account when handling or making the decision to handle explosive products.
Kentucky Firework Laws
The Kentucky Firework Laws permit the sale to persons 18 years or older a variety of ground and hand-held sparkling devices, such as:
- Dipped and Wire-Stick Sparklers
- Flitter Sparklers
- Cylindrical Fountains
- Cone Fountains
- Illuminating Torches
- Wheels
- Ground Spinners
- Toy Smoke Devices
Aerial devices, such as:
- Sky Rockets
- Bottle Rockets
- Missile-Type Rocket
- Helicopter Aerial Spinners
- Roman Candles
- Mines and Shells
And audible ground devices, such as:
- Firecrackers and Salutes
- Chasers
All permitted pyrotechnic material comes with an amount cap, however, which can be found outlined on the Kentucky Legislature.
Additionally, while Kentucky has a general law that blankets the state, there are still county laws to take into account. In the Louisville Metro Area and Jefferson County Ordinances, the only allowed consumer fireworks are the handheld and ground sparkling devices outlined, with the stipulation that they must be at least 200 feet from any structure. All aerial and audible ground devices are illegal without a permit. These ordinances change from county to county, but the safety measures, and sometimes, the consequences, do not.
Most Common Firework Injuries
Of the 2021 CPSC 2021 Special Study, 59% of reported injuries were sustained to males, and 41% to females. Breakdown by age showed that adults aged 25-44 accounted for 32% of reported injuries, children 15 years and younger accounted for 29%, and seniors 65 years or older accounted for 4%.
In terms of bodily injury:
- Hands and fingers: 31%
- Head, face, and ears: 21%
- Legs: 15%
- Eyes: 14%
- Trunk: 10%
- Arms: 8%
Most of these reported firework-related injuries are due to negligence, not malfunction of a product. Sparklers themselves are estimated with 1,100 injuries alone, and are still considered one of the safest, kid-friendly products on the market.
These long-held beliefs and traditional consumption of alcohol and drugs during this holiday can heighten the risk of injury to you, other people, and property, which can become detrimental to all parties involved. Without proper supervision, children especially are at real risk of injury. Always be sure to have your 4th of July celebration come equipped with responsible use, careful control, and proper safety and backup measures.
What are the Safest Fireworks?
While no pyrotechnic product is technically ‘safe’, there are some brands that have a longer history of quality products for consumers to choose from. Wholesale Fireworks, for example, was founded in 1980 and is one of the largest consumer distributors in the business. Galaxy Fireworks, Inc. (est. 1983) has a no-dud guarantee to minimize re-lighting and delayed reaction injuries and multiple certifications from established pyrotechnic associations and organizations.
These two large companies provide quality consumer pyrotechnic products, but no firework is a safe firework – the safest fireworks are those handled by professionals. Plenty of experts are trained and ready-for-action on this exciting, patriotic holiday. In fact, many of the firework shows they work are hosted in Louisville and the surrounding areas, and are included in family-fun celebrations, which is a great way to enable families to spend time together and safely take part in the firework tradition without any extra anxiety.
Where Can I Watch Fireworks and Celebrate 4th of July in Louisville, Kentucky?
Give the lighter a break this 4th of July, and attend one of many firework shows and celebrations in the Louisville area. Some of the options, but not all, around you can be as close as:
- Riverview Independence Festival
- Saturday, July 2, 5 p.m.
- Riverview Park
- 8202 Greenwood Road, Louisville, KY 40258
- Live music, food, drinks, and fireworks
- Locust Grove Independence Day/Summer at the Farm
- Saturday, July 2, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Locust Grove
- 561 Blankenbaker Lane, Louisville, KY 40207
- Free admission, tours, readings, and food trucks available for purchase
- Independence Day Thunder Over Shively
- Saturday, July 2, 1 p.m.
- 6605 Lower Hunters Trace, Louisville, KY 40258
- Substance-free, admission-free, games, a silent auction, food available, and fireworks
- Crescent Hill Fourth of July
- Sunday, July 3, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Monday, July 4 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Peterson Dumesnil House
- 301 S. Peterson Ave., Louisville, KY 40206
- Two day event, live performances, auction and raffle, games, inflatables, food, prizes, and fireworks
- Waterfront Park Fourth of July
- Monday, July 4, 5-10 p.m.
- Waterfront Park
- 231 Witherspoon St., Louisville, KY 40202
- Activities, live music, food, alcohol, and fireworks
- Fourth of July Firework Extravaganza
- Monday, July 4, 7 p.m.
- Slugger Field
- 401 E. Main St., Louisville, KY 40202
- Louisville Bats vs the St. Paul Saints, food, drinks, and fireworks
Celebrate safely!
If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident in the State of Kentucky and are in need of an experienced injury attorney, give the lawyers at the Cooper & Friedman law firm a call. The attorneys at Cooper and Friedman PLLC have over 50 years of combined experience defending the rights of injury victims. Schedule a free case consultation with an attorney by calling 502-459-7555 today.