Monday 28 June 2010
Territory Day (1 July) is a great time for family and friends to celebrate Self Government, however safety with fireworks should be our top priority.
Dr Laura Edwards of the Centre for Disease Control said Territorians need to be extremely careful when handling fireworks.
"Each Territory Day there are numerous injuries and up to 10 hospital admissions caused by fireworks," she said.
"A lot of these injuries were burns that required surgery and months of ongoing treatment."
Dr Edwards says most injuries caused by fireworks could be easily prevented.
"Our regular studies of how fireworks injuries occur have revealed some key dangers that are easily preventable with simple common-sense measures.
"First and foremost, the safety of children is paramount. Children should be supervised at all times when around fireworks, including sparklers.
"Lighting more than one sparkler at a time can cause a 'super ignition' that showers 1000-degree sparks all over the person's hands, so only light one sparkler at a time.
"When in the proximity of fireworks, everyone should wear cotton or natural fibre clothes because synthetic clothes can catch fire easily.
"The most severe injuries happen when people pick up, try to re-light or look closely at a 'dud' firework that then explodes. If a firework does not ignite, do not go near it for at least 20 minutes, then pour a bucket of water on it.
"Fireworks need to be stable before lighting them, as they often fall over and can explode horizontally into crowds of people. Place them on a flat surface or embed them in a bucket of sand to light them.
"Alcohol also plays a key factor in fireworks injuries. People under the influence of alcohol should not operate fireworks."
Dr Edwards said Territory Day should be a fun event for everyone to enjoy and it will be a lot better when injury-free.
"So please use common sense when dealing with fireworks," she said.
For more information on Territory Day, as well as firework safety, please visit:
http://www.darwin.nt.gov.au/aboutdarwin/things_to_do/territory_day.htm
Media Contact: Jasmine Featherstone 0401 116 144
