Source: Mike Bradshaw, associate professor -- Family Studies & Human
Service
Extension specialist in health and safety
RADIO
REPORT: 1 Wrap
1 Actuality
You have selected a report about firework safety. The wrap and sound bite follow in 3,2,1.
WRAP 1: The sparkler – a common type of fireworks given to children – can be extremely dangerous.
TIME: 50 Seconds
SUGGESTED INTRO: MOST OF US CAN PROBABLY REMEMBER PLAYING WITH SPARKLERS DURING FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATIONS AS KIDS. HOWEVER AN EXPERT IN HEALTH AND SAFETY AT K-STATE SAYS SPARKLERS CAN CAUSE SEVERE INJURY IF NOT HANDLED PROPERLY. LANICE THOMSON REPORTS.
THE FOURTH OF JULY IS ALMOST HERE. AN EXPERT IN HEALTH AND SAFETY AT K-STATE SAYS ALTHOUGH MANUFACTURERS RECOMMEND ONLY ADULTS USE FIREWORKS, HALF OF THE FIREWORKS-RELATED INJURIES THAT ARE REPORTED OCCUR IN CHILDREN. EXTENSION SPECIALIST DR. MIKE BRADSHAW SAYS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CULPRITS IS THE SPARKLER – A TYPE OF FIREWORK THAT IS COMMONLY THOUGHT OF AS SAFE FOR CHILDREN. . . .
(Bradshaw :22 “Something about a sparkler that parents think it’s okay for a child to have a sparkler and to go out in the dark and swing that around, and of course sparklers generate enough heat to melt gold. They’re one of our worst, as far as fireworks are concerned.”)
BRADSHAW SAYS PARENTS SHOULD EVALUATE EACH CHILD TO DETERMINE IF THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE ENOUGH TO PARTICIPATE IN THE USE OF FIREWORKS. LANICE THOMSON, KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY.