Happy Fourth of July my least favorite holiday. It is also known as idiots come out of the woodwork day. If we could just celebrate the holiday for what it is, the country's independence day then fine. But it has morphed into a reason to be stupid day. How many houses will burn down, how many fingers will be lost, how many people will end up in the hospital, and yes how many people will die to careless handling of fireworks?
According to the National Fire Protection Agency
In 2010, fireworks caused an estimated 15,500 reported fires, including 1,100 total structure fires, 300 vehicle fires, and 14,100 outside and other fires. These fires resulted in an estimated eight reported civilian deaths, 60 civilian injuries and $36 million in direct property damage.
In 2010, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 8,600 people for fireworks related injuries; 57% of 2010 emergency room fireworks-related injuries were to the extremities and 37% were to the head. The risk of fireworks injury was highest for children ages 5-14, with more than twice the risk for the general population. On Independence Day in a typical year, far more U.S. fires are reported than on any other day, and fireworks account for two out of five of those fires, more than any other cause of fires.
Enjoy the holiday. Have a nice barbecue. Enjoy a great hot dog. Enjoy family and friends. Celebrate the indepedence of the United States with a glass of wine or a cup of coffee. Celbrate the real meaning of the 4TH
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html
But damn it use your brains and be careful out there!
I'm off to Mom's for the day and night and to enjoy a holiday and as you probably guessed, without fireworks.
Comment Away
4 comments:
I have company for the holiday. I think tonight we shall take lawn chairs across the street to the school parking lot, where there's a great view of the city's big fireworks show and none of the traffic or loud music from the actual venue.
As to hotdogs, let me put in a plug for my fave: Hebrew National beef knockwurst. But I don't think we'll have them for dinner tonight.
Nor will we set any fires. I do remember fondly when home fireworks were allowed. I loved them as a kid and so did my daughter in her turn. We'd try to talk her into going to a big fireworks show and she'd think that was a great idea... as long as we had our own first.
Once again, have to start with a good news story. The Colo Springs Philharmonic was to do a concert at the AF Academy, preceding their fireworks. Cancelled, obviously. In the last four or five days, two rival newspapers joined to back a benefit concert at the World Arena, all food and money donations going to the fire victims. Local media will carry the concert and provide a way to provide pledges. Now, the really neat thing? The concert will be the Philharmonic with the Flying W Wranglers, the cowboy band we so enjoyed in '87 and again in 2007. The ranch was totally destroyed by the fire. They're putting this together in four days, with one rehearsal together and media and support staff scrambling to make it work. How I'd like to see it!
I'm with you on the danger and damage of local fireworks. We have some folks in our area who do home fireworks and I hope they abstain this year, as we're way hot and dry. As a kid, the only "fireworks" we were allowed were the sparklers.
We've had a busy day of organizing and clearing and shifting furniture, to make way for the a place to "hide" (koff!) the gun safe in the LR. We'll celebrate the 4th tonight with ribs, potato salad, sweet corn and deviled eggs. No fireworks.
Hi Pat
We lived in Klamath Falls, Oregon on a street not far from Klamath Lake which was a lake forty miles long and eight miles wide. The would shoot fireworks from two or three locations on the lake. We would sit on our roof and watch them. We also did the firecrackers and sparklers and kids but we never started a fire are burnt anything down because we were both supervised and careful. We always had a hose or a bucket near by, adults were always present and the responsible. That seems to have disappeared now and replecaed by dumber than a mud fence adults that want see how high a garbage can go or shoot of rockets towards roofs of house. Sit in the parking lot of an apartment complex and set off rockets towards playgrounds and buildings. I don't really want to take a part of growing up away from anyone, I just want people to use their God given brains and be careful.
Sounds like a pleasent fourth you have planned! Friends and family and food and professional fireworks is a great way to celebrate and a sparkler or firecracker or two done carefully is the best way to celebrate!
I love the Hebrew Nation 97% fat free beef hot dogs! We had them for lunch today and Mom loved them so much she wanted the same thing for dinner tonight and so we had them again tonight!
Bill
Hi DR
I love the story you started with. I hate tragedies and national disasters but out them comes people pulling togehter, going above and beyond the call of duty, helping each other and I just thing this is great!!
As a kid we were allowed a firecracker or two but we closely watched. I hope nothing goes wrong with the fireworks that your neighbors are doing.
We had hot dogs, sweet potato chips, canteloupe and ice cream today. Twice. But I like the sounds of ribs, potato salad, deviled eggs and sweet corn!
Bill
Post a Comment