To help your department increase the messages regarding public safety and fire prevention related to fireworks, feel free to use this media release as a guide for your department.
Now is the time to get the message out to the media regarding firework safety. The message can be two-fold. The first being injury prevention, and the second fire danger. Once you have the media interviewing you, there will be an open opportunity to stress both messages. The example release below offers you quick and easy talking points regarding safety and fire prevention issues on the topic of fireworks.
This release offers you the opportunity to cut, modify, and paste it on your department format. You can then easily and quickly send it out to the media outlets in your community. The information will fit on one sheet of paper, making it easy to fax out and more importantly stay in the hands of reporters.
Feel free to change names, dates, contact details and department to fit your needs. This media release has been very successful in getting action from the media. It offers a voice, facts, and contact information that will make it very easy for the media to have a complete story.
Press Release
For Immediate Release
Release Date: June 27, 2007
Contact: Chief, Sioux Falls Fire Rescue
Sioux Falls Fire Rescue Urges Safety with Fireworks
Sioux Falls, South Dakota: Sioux Falls Fire Rescue urges citizens to leave fireworks to the professionals. Each year SFFR responds to fires caused by fireworks. Nationally, more than $36 million in property is damaged each year due to fireworks. With the increased potential of wildland fires, the public is urged to use extreme caution when using fireworks.
Another sad fact is a large number of fireworks burn injuries involve children. These are usually burns to the hands and eyes causing vision impairment as well as disfiguring scars. “Sparklers are the biggest danger to children,” Chief said.
A tip temperature at the end of the sparkler reaches 1800 degrees Fahrenheit and can easily cause severe burns. The chief cautions that, “Kids and fireworks are a dangerous combination.”
Quick Facts
Emergency departments treated an average of 9,600 people each year for firework-related injuries in the United States, and 8 people will die from their injuries during the month around Independence Day:
- 40 percent of these injuries occurred among children ages 14 years and younger.
- Males sustained about 76 percent of all injuries.
- Hands (33 percent), eyes (21 percent), and the head, face, and ear (21 percent) were the parts of the body most frequently injured.
- More than half of the injuries involved burns (62 percent).
- Injuries were most commonly associated with firecrackers (17 percent), sparklers (17 percent), and rockets (14 percent).
- In order to prevent injuries and fires, Sioux Falls Fire Rescue reminds Citizens that discharging of fireworks is illegal in the city limits.
For more information, contact the Chief.
Ends