Each July 4th, thousands of people, most often children and teens, are injured while using fireworks. Despite the dangers of fireworks, many individuals don’t understand or ignore the risks – devastating burns, other injuries, fires, and even death.
The National Fire Prevention Association NFPA’s urges people not to use consumer fireworks because they are too dangerous. Fireworks are responsible for thousands of fires and injuries each year.
Fireworks Statistics
- Fireworks start an average of 18,500 fires per year, including 1,300 structure fires, 300 vehicle fires, and 16,900 outside and other fires. These fires caused an average of three deaths, 40 civilian injuries, and an average of $43 million in direct property damage.
- In 2017, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 12,900 people for fireworks related injuries; 54% of those injuries were to the extremities and 36% were to the head.
- Children younger than 15 years of age accounted for more than one-third (36%) of the estimated 2017 injuries. These injury estimates were obtained or derived from the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Fireworks Annual Report.
The Round Lake Park Police Department will be strictly enforcing illegal fireworks possession during the 4th of July holiday. Officers have been instructed to take a zero tolerance approach.
Round Lake Park Ordinance
92.03 – SALE OR USE OF FIREWORKS PROHIBITED.
No person shall sell, offer for sale, use or explode any fireworks in the village except the Board of Trustees may grant a permit for a public display of fireworks under such conditions as it may impose under the provisions of Ill. Rev. Stat. Chapter 127½, § 128.
92.99 – PENALTY – B (3) Any person, firm, or corporation who violates § 92.03 shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine of not less than $150.00 nor more than $750.00.
94.30 – CREATING OR PERMITTING EXCESSIVE NOISE PROHIBITED.
No person shall disturb the peace and quiet of any other person by creating or permitting excessive noise on his or any property. Excessive noise shall include, but not by way of limitation, any of the following:
(A) Loud playing of phonographs, radios, television sets, music machines or musical instruments;
94.99 – PENALTY – (B) Any person convicted of the violation of § 94.30 shall be fined not less than $25.00 nor more than $750.00 for the first offense, and in an amount not less than $50.00 nor more than $750.00 for the second or subsequent offense.
