Kids and Fireworks dont Mix 
2003 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance
Kewaskum youth injured
while using illegal fireworks
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By AL DUNN- GM Today Staff
July 1, 2002
A 17-year-old Kewaskum youth learned first hand the dangers of handling illegal fireworks when an M-80 exploded in his hand Sunday night in a Slinger apartment, blowing off his thumb and at least one of his fingers. Two other occupants of the apartment were also injured as a result, but not seriously, said Slinger Police Chief Steve Braun.
The force of the blast also blew out a glass patio door, sending glass shards in all directions.
Braun said Michael Landry had been "playing around with a lighter and an M-80" in an apartment at 141 Maple Drive South at approximately 9:30 p.m. when he accidentally lit the powerful firework - which contains the black powder equivalent of a quarter-stick of dynamite.
"When he realized the M-80 was lit," Braun said, "he ran to a patio door to throw it outside. Unfortunately, the door was locked. While he was attempting to unlock the door, the device exploded."
Two occupants of the apartment, 12-year-old April Berg and 8-year-old Austin Lanthrip were injured by flying glass from the patio door.
Landry was first taken to Aurora Medical Center -Hartford, but was then transferred to Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital in Milwaukee where he remains in satisfactory condition.
The two children were treated and released in Hartford, Braun said.
This incident he said, which was concurred by other county public safety personnel, illustrates the danger in these devices, especially with the Fourth of July holiday fast approaching.
In most county communities, only state approved "safe and sane" fireworks can be sold within municipal limits.
Under state law, individual purchases of fireworks that "go up or blow up" are prohibited.
Restricted fireworks are defined as those that move, jump, explode or emit balls of fire and include such types as bottle rockets, firecrackers, jumping jacks and Roman candles.
The state allows the sale of fireworks more powerful than caps, sparklers and snakes only to out-of-state buyers or in-state organizations that hold a permit issued under a local ordinance.
"Safe and sane fireworks don’t discharge, they sparkle," said Hartford City Administrator Gary Koppelberger.
"Legal fireworks have the ‘safe and sane’ product label on them," said Capt. Ed Geidel, of the West Bend Fire Department.
Those fireworks can be sold and used within the city limits.
Capt. Pete Lieven of the West Bend Police Department said stands that require the consumer to purchase a permit merely transfer liability to the consumer. In some townships, purchasers pay for permits that usually state they can buy fireworks, but they are only for use in a specific place at a specific time, most commonly on the Fourth of July at the fireworks shop where they are sold, he said.
"If People take them home and use them, they are in violation of the state statute," Lieven said.
"Unless they are issued a permit by the city," he said, "it’s illegal and we will take appropriate enforcement action."
According to national statistics, 20,100 fires directly attributable to fireworks killed three civilians, two firefighters and injured 68 people in 1997. Another 8,300 injuries were reported to emergency rooms as a result of fireworks injuries.
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/front/topstory23.asp
Submitted on 07/01/2002
Submitted by:
J
Reference:
Gmtoday.com
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