The founding fathers intended the Fourth of July to be a day of celebration.

John Adams, Massachusetts delegate to the second Continental Congress, had this to say about whooping it up on the anniversary of our declaration of independence from the British in 1776:

“It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more,” Adams said.

These days, the celebration often includes fireworks — sparklers, bottle rockets, Roman candles and firecrackers. Too often, it also includes fires, injuries and deaths because of individuals using fireworks.

“The statistics are staggering,” said Athens Fire Chief Danny Southard, who recommends leaving fireworks to the professionals to reduce the risk.

In 2007, nationwide fireworks use caused 30,100 fires, 9500 estimated injuries, 11 deaths and $34 million in property damage.

He reminds Athens residents that fireworks — other than the Reliance Bank Fire Cracker Festival on The Fourth — are illegal within the city limits.

City leaders passed this law not because they are killjoys but because using them increases the chance of fire, injury and death. That truth hit home in 2007, when a 7-year-old Athens boy, Paxon Jordan, died July 5 after a mortar-type firecracker struck him in the chest while he was standing in the family’s backyard. The incident caused many to see how easily a person can be injured or killed using fireworks at home, even when they are trying to be safe.

In the Jordan case, Paxon’s father, Shannon, and a 13-year-old neighbor witnessed the accident. The firecracker had been placed on a table. Just as the fuse was lighted and Shannon joined the boys a safe distance away, the family dog brushed against the table, knocking it over and causing the round to go astray. It struck Paxon just above the heart. He died later that night at Athens-Limestone Hospital. He had celebrated his seventh birthday that July 1.

Until 2007, we had never had a death,” the chief said. “That is why I am so passionate about this.”

Though he had used fireworks as a boy, Southard quickly saw the down side once he became a firefighter.

“Anytime you’ve got a projectile — whether it’s a gun or a tube for fireworks — there is no way to predict how it will act,” he said. “My daughters always wanted me to buy them and I said no. We go to a public fireworks display. It is not that I don’t want people to make a living. I just want them to know there is a risk when making that decision.”

Even sparklers — which are allowed even in some states that ban fireworks — cannot be considered safe, he said.

“Some of them burn at 1,800 degrees,” the chief said. “That’s hot enough to burn gold.” The Consumer Products Safety Commission says sparklers burn at 1,200 degree and above.



Safety tips for those who do



For those who use fireworks — outside the city limits, of course — the Alabama Department of Public Health and TNT Fireworks East offer these tips:

• Don’t let children under age 14 use fireworks

• Supervise individuals under age 18.

• Buy only from a reliable fireworks seller

• Keep fireworks away from pets

• Read and follow all instructions

• Use fireworks outdoors only and away from flammable material

• Keep a bucket of water on hand in case a firework sparks a fire

• DO NOT try to relight or handle a firework that malfunctions; soak it in water and throw it away

• Make sure others are a safe distance away before lighting

• Never ignite fireworks in a container, particularly glass or metal

• Never experiment or make your own fireworks

• Don’t wear loose clothing

• Don’t launch rockets from a bottle — use a rocket launcher

• Hold sparklers at arms length and while wearing gloves; never give one to a child under age 5 or hold one while holding a baby





For the most recent fireworks death and injury statistics, go online to:

http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/statistics/

Click on the 2006 Fireworks Annual Report under the heading Federal Fire News, located on the right side of the screen.