Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-06-27

many deaths Occurring after July as a direct
result of fireworks accidents or drownngs and
deaths from accidents to motor cars.
From 1903 to 1918 the American Medical as
soeiation compiled statistics Of Independence day
fireworks casualties and found 1.sG2 deaths and
4o.Os9 injuries we're attributable definitely to fire.
works 1t was an average of 143 deaths and 3,237
INJURIES each year. In the celebration in 1sEl
Of the "Gorous Fourth" 215 persons were killed
and 5000 injured The fire loss that lay was
S1OO0000.
Last year the National Museum Of Safety or
dered newspaper reports Of fireworks casualties
from all parts Of the country for June and July.
The result.
Killed NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. IN
Injured ........................ ..-'-oo
Included In the list Of dead were D. chllden
less than five years old "a persons burned 70
death h. fireworks or bonfres; ~ children burned
to death by "harmless" sparkers, and y children
died from eating fireworks. "Unoaded guns or
stray bullets injured 81 persons last year; 10
persons lost or both eyes and 3oO persons
suffered injuries TO their eyes.
Recently the country mortified at the cas-
ualty list of 125 in explosion In a hospital
in Cleveland Ohio 1t has also been horriied
from time ia time when fire in school, tor
nado or n flood snnfs out from lOO to 100 lives.
Yet 1t seems strangely nnconcerned that every
year more tfnn 100 persons die and more imam
5000 are seriously injured In celebrating the
GLORIOUS Fourth" Fireworks arc generally held
responsible for the appalling death list wh1le as
a matter OF fact, frecrackers, salutes pinWheels,
bombs and skyrockes account for not more than
per cent Of the Independence Day casualties.
Nor have all of the deaths been due to the ex-
p1nsions Of these fireworks. Many Of them re-
suit when sufficient Is not taken 10 keep ire
works from the smaller children. Many children
have died from eating poisonous powder peiiels,
such as are used In dynamite canes. Even the
so-caled safety" sparkers have proved fatal TO
Youngsters who have eaten them, believing that
they candy
But aside from tile dangers of celebrating the
Fourth there are other reasons why this - an
occasion for high mortality rate. The Fourth
of July Is the one national holiday in the year
when the entire population drops all it's work
aday cares to swarm to the beaches, the noun
tains and other places OF recreation Inc result
Is an appalling number of drownings ana deaths
In automobile accidents Which far exceeds the
number recorded amy other day In the year.
So it Is apparent that although great deai
Of good has been accomplished by those organiza-
tons which have sponsored this safe and sane
Fourth idea and which calls upon every Amer
lean TO assume the responsibility of being a
"safety engineer on July i, there Is still much
to be done In making the celebration OF TINS das
more in keeping with the spirit OF the occasion
one hopeful sign lies In the fact that recreation
IN disnlacng fireworks to aAcertaln extent fo'
the character Of Fourth OF July celebrations i
changing and for the better, according 10 sur
yey recently made by the Playground and lice
reation Association Of America. Without iosin
sight OF the small hoy and his zest for - eoo
show IN this holiday the association hds sent on
suggestions for what ii calls constructive com
munIty programs which have been tried and aI
nroyed by various cities and towns during rocen
years
Substantial progress has been shown, aecors
Ing TO this survey, In changing The former nan
boyant Independence Day demonstration INTO .
casIOns InuT til sDmg degree ut least, fHtefift