Fireworks Safety

Fireworks Safety

The safety of using fireworks has been the subject of debates over the years. Annually, more than hundreds are injured because of fireworks, with some victims needing to have parts of their body amputated due to the power of the blast.

But injuries aren't the only concern when it comes to handling fireworks. Since fireworks are composed of highly-flammable materials, there is also the risk of them causing fire.

It is especially the case when they are poorly stored just like what happened in the Philippines in December 2007 when several stores selling fireworks were burned down because a firework was accidentally lit.

Because of these, several countries regulate the use of fireworks in their territory. In the United States for example, the use of fireworks is allowed although it is up to each state on how they will regulate the use of them.

The National Council on Fireworks Safety is a US-based organization that aims to promote fireworks safety. Below is a list of their advice in handling fireworks.

- Fireworks should not be lit indoors especially sparklers.
Doing this is potentially hazardous to people and may cause fire when thrown into flammable materials or surfaces.

- Only persons who are over 12 are to be allowed in handling sparklers since these fireworks can cause injury if handled incorrectly.

- People shouldn't mix drinking alcohol and lighting fireworks. Drinking alcohol slows down a person's reaction time and could be dangerous when handling fireworks.

- Finally, people are told to use their common sense. A little bit of caution is also encouraged. Read more...

Fireworks Displays

Fireworks Displays - Where Colors of Fireworks Come From

Have you ever wondered where the colors of fireworks come from ? Wonder no more because we have provided you with a comprehensive list of the elements needed to create specific colors in fireworks.

To start with, the colors of fireworks depend on added compounds to the black powder. A specific compound creates a particular color.

It's then up to the manufacturer to choose the color effect that a firework aims to create.
Below is a list of the common colors used in fireworks and the compounds that give off a specific hue.

1. Red

this color is achieved by mixing either strontium or lithium salts to the gunpowder. Strontium gives off a bright shade of red while lithium a fainter one.

2. Gold

want a golden glow in your fireworks? Mixing iron, charcoal or lampblack will produce a golden light.

3. Blue

producing this color needs compounds such as copper compounds combined with a chlorine producer, and copper acetoarsenite.

4. Purple

had enough with the common colors? Mix strontium (the compound that produces red) and copper (compound that produces blue) and you have yourself a purple flash of light.

5. Silver

if you want to imitate the color of lightning, add either aluminum, titanium or magnesium to the mix and you will have silver.

There are other compounds added to regular gunpowder to produce different-colored fireworks. The ones listed above, however, are the most common.

Keep in mind though that you shouldn't try mixing them with gunpowder by yourself, unless you are guided by a professional or a professional yourself. Mishandling fireworks can be potentially dangerous. Read more...

How Fireworks Work

There are a wide variety of fireworks available in the market. Each produces a different effect depending on how they were set up and the materials used in making them.

In spite of their variety, they operate on basic principles which apply to each and every firework. This article will give you a glimpse of how firecrackers work.

It begins with learning about the three basic types of fireworks: the firecracker, sparklers and the aerial fireworks.

Firecrackers are the oldest and the most basic of all three. The Chinese first created them by stuffing gunpowder in hollow bamboo tubes.

Typical firecrackers consist of gunpowder or flash powder which is then tightly packed into a tube. A fuse serves to light the powder inside. Sometimes, manufacturers add materials such as aluminum to make the explosion bright.

Meanwhile sparklers simply emit bright flashes of light. They are designed to burn brightly for a long time unlike firecrackers which usually just blow up in a fraction of a second.

Finally, there are the aerial fireworks. They are probably the most common form of fireworks since they are the ones used during celebrations such as the New Year and, in the United States, the Fourth of July.

Among the three, aerial fireworks are the most complex. They are usually composed of a container, a bursting charge at the center which ignites the stars located on its side, and the fuse which determines how high the fireworks can fly. Different compounds are used in the stars to create different colors. Read more...