The summer heat, the smell of hamburgers on the grill, and the
sound of fireworks can only mean one thing: It's the Fourth of
July. I love fireworks as much as the next guy. What a great way
to celebrate our country's birthday. As a kid I couldn't wait to
watch my Dad along with other dad's and older kids fire off
their arsenals. But before your family celebrates, make sure
everyone knows about fireworks safety. If not handled properly,
fireworks can cause burn and eye injuries in kids and adults.
This unlucky blast-test dummy was the star of the Consumer
Product Safety Commission’s annual July press event on the
National Mall in Washington. The commission, which regulates
fireworks’ explosive power, here vividly shows the potential of
pyrotechnics for bodily harm. The mannequin’s Styrofoam head,
filled with cornmeal to simulate brains, was close to a
professional-grade explosive, with a “quick match” fuse that
burns almost instantaneously. (Consumer-grade pyrotechnics have
a six-second fuse.) The commission