CELEBRATING THE FOURTH OF JULY SAFELY AND LEGALLY

The Fourth of July fireworks season brings with it the happiness of children who enjoy setting off bottle rockets and Roman candles.

But the season also brings concern on the part of parents and public officials who must be alert to possible injuries caused by improper use of fireworks.

"The safety of everyone is of utmost importance," said Cape Girardeau Police Sgt. Carl Kinnison. To that end, the Cape Girardeau Police Department has printed training tips for its officers concerning the most common violations.

These violations include smoking within a fireworks stand, discharging fireworks within 75 feet of a fireworks stand and within 100 feet of a gas station, and discharging fireworks outside the legal dates and times.

The discharge of fireworks within the Cape Girardeau city limits is legal from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. through July 3. On the Fourth of July, they may be discharged from 10 a.m. until midnight.

One of the most consistent violations, said Kinnison, is throwing fireworks from or at a vehicle. "Kids stand at the side of the road and throw at cars, or kids throw from cars," Kinnison said. "That's illegal."

Fireworks injuries are surprisingly few, said Pat Pennington, manager of Southeast Hospital Emergency Services. "We don't get as many as you would think," she said. "We get a few in the days around the Fourth of July, including a few sparkler burns and bottle rocket injuries. The total is fewer than 10."

Part of this good record, said Pennington, is due to increased public awareness regarding safety and use of fireworks. Even so, she said, "I would admonish all parents to supervise small children in the use of fireworks."

David Schnur, medical director at St. Francis Emergency Center, said the trend has been toward fewer injuries from fireworks due to public awareness and public education. "But people can do stupid things," he said. "Last year, in another city, a young person put a bottle rocket or a sparkler in his boot and wound up with a third-degree burn."

The majority of injuries, Schnur said, are to the hands and face from bottle rockets and firecrackers such as the M-80. Some injuries can be so severe that the injured person ends up needing plastic surgery.

"The big problem," said Laura Hoffman of Hoffman Family Fireworks "is that people think they can hold Roman candles in their hand while they go off." She said that the instructions on one particular kind of Roman candle say it can be hand-held, but that no Roman candle is safe to hold in one's hand.

"Parental supervision is mandatory for young kids who aren't experienced with fireworks," Hoffman said.

Sue Beck, manager of Kinder's Fireworks tents in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Poplar Bluff, agreed that holding a Roman candle is very dangerous. But in fact, Beck said, older kids, mainly boys, use Roman candles and bottle rockets as weapons.

"Kids have Roman candle wars in which they shoot at each other," Beck said. "That's not proper usage."

She said kids cut the end off a Wiffle ball bat or use any tube to shoot bottle rockets. "Kids are very innovative," she said, "and have no doubt come up with new ways to shoot them."

Beck said there are three rules for maintaining fireworks safety. "Number one is parental supervision," she said. "Number two is proper, correct usage of fireworks. And number three is common sense."

Beck said she tries hard to eliminate dangerous products from her displays. "We will take a loss before we'll sell defective fireworks," she said. "I'm very conscious of making sure our product is as it should be. Most fireworks vendors feel the same. That's just good business. And common sense."

Dr. Marc J. Shapiro, a St. Louis University trauma surgeon, lists the following precautions that should be taken:

-- Be familiar with the fireworks and risks involved

-- Use a safe, wide-open area

-- Move children out of harm's way

-- Wear proper clothing: long sleeves, pants, protective goggles and a hat. Clothing should not be loose fitting or flammable

-- Hold sparklers at arm's length. Do not let children touch them until well after they have burned out.