KFD Wants You to Have a Safe, Burn & Injury Free Fourth of July
Fireworks during the Fourth of July are as American as baseball and apple-pie, but did you know that more fires are reported on that day than on any other day of the year in the United States? Nearly half of these fires are caused by fireworks. Consumer fireworks include sparklers and firecrackers. Any consumer firework can be dangerous. The Kingsport Fire Department urges residents to enjoy local professional fireworks displays.
Kingsport City Ordinances specifically prohibit the manufacture, use, discharge, possession with the intent to discharge, or sale of fireworks within the city limits.
The use of Sky Lanterns (aka “Chinese Lanterns” or “Wish Lanterns”) is prohibited in the State of Tennessee.
Consumer fireworks such as sparklers burn at over 1200 degrees and will cause third degree burns. There are no safe consumer fireworks!
If you live in an area where fireworks are permissible follow these safety tips from the National Fire Protection Association:
Fireworks Tips:
- Leave fireworks to the professionals.
- Do not use consumer fireworks
- Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
- Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.
- Avoid buying fireworks that come in brown paper packaging, as this can often be a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and could pose a danger to consumers.
- Adults should always supervise fireworks activities. Parents often don’t realize that there are many injuries from sparklers to children under five. Sparklers burn at temperatures above 1,200 degrees – hot enough to melt glass.
- Never have any portion of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Move back to a safe distance immediately after lighting.
- Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not fully functioned.
- Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
- Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.
- Light one item at a time then move back quickly.
- Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.
- After fireworks fully complete their functioning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding to prevent a trash fire.
- Children should never pick up fireworks that may be left over, they may still be active. Remember to cool a burn with running water then seek immediate medical attention or call 911.
Fireworks by the numbers:
- From 2009-2013, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 18,500 fires caused by fireworks. These fires included 1,300 structure fires, 300 vehicle fires and 16,900 outside and other fires. An estimated two people were killed in these fires.
- In 2014, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 10,500 people for fireworks related injuries; 51% of those injuries were to the extremities and 38% were to the head. These injury estimates were obtained or derived from the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s2014 Fireworks Annual Report by Yongling Tu and Demar Granados.
- The risk of fireworks injury is highest for young people ages 5-9, followed by children 10-19.
- More than one-quarter (28%) of fires started by fireworks in 2009-2013 were reported on July 4th. Almost half (47%) of the reported fires on the Fourth of July were started by fireworks.
Source: NFPA’s Fireworks report, by Marty Ahrens, June 2016 www.nfpa.org
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KINGSPORT – REMINDER: The Law Enforcement Memorial Service is at the Kingsport Justice Center today, May 9, 2016 at 4:00 PM.
As previously released:
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as National Police Week. Traditionally, the local Fraternal Order of Police (F.O.P.) Burgess-Mills Lodge #11 conducts a Law Enforcement Memorial Service at the Kingsport Justice Center during National Police Week.
The service this year will be held this coming Monday, May 9, 2016 at 4:00 PM at the new Law Enforcement Memorial and Eternal Flame at the Kingsport Police Department on the corner of West Market and Clay Streets in Downtown Kingsport. The department extends an open invitation to anyone who would like to join us as we remember and honor our local fallen officers, as well as all fallen officers throughout the nation.
The Honorable Ray Conkin, Sullivan County General Sessions Court Judge, will deliver the keynote address with the Kingsport Police Department Honor Guard conducting the ceremonial honors. The newly constructed Law Enforcement Memorial and Eternal Flame will be officially unveiled and dedicated during the service.
A brief video preview of the new Law Enforcement Memorial and Eternal Flame at the Kingsport Police Department has been made available for viewing on the K.P.D. YouTube channel by visiting the link below:
The following excerpt is shared from the website of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund:
Today, in the United States, some 900,000 law enforcement officers put their lives on the line for the safety and protection of others. They serve with valor and distinction – and with great success. Federal statistics show that violent and property crime rates in the United States are at historic lows, thanks in large measure to the dedicated service of the men and women of law enforcement.
That protection comes at a price, however. Each year, there are approximately 60,000 assaults on law enforcement officers, resulting in nearly 16,000 injuries. Sadly, over the last decade, an average of 150 officers a year have been killed in the line of duty. And throughout U.S. history, more than 20,000 law enforcement officers have made the ultimate sacrifice.
The following two inscriptions are found on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington D.C.
This Memorial is dedicated to all Law Enforcement Officers in the United States of America. Inscribed on these walls are the names of those men and women who died in the line of duty.
It is not how these officers died that made them heroes. It is how they lived.
Links to the National Police Week website, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund website, and the Officer Down Memorial Page are provided below: