The Ely miner., 1934-06-29
JULY FOURTH
DANGEROUSLY
National Safety Council Sends
Warnings for Prevention
of Accidents.

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dangerous day of the year, according tt
the National Safety Council, but fire.
works no longer constitute the chic
hazard. Traffic deaths and drowning,
reach their peak on the Fourth and The
fact that the toll runs into the hundred.
indicates that our modern holidays art
not so far removed from the Roman
holidays when the days success was
measured by the amount of Christian
blood spilled
Actual statistics on last years toll are
not available but compilation made
hastily by the Associated Press for July
5 newspapers gives comparative pic
ture of the hazards. 1t shows &c traffic
deaths, 42 drownings, and only six
fireworks fatalities. While the actual
death toll was probably much greater,
the proportions would in all probability
remain much the same.
The relatively small number of deaths
of course, does not tell the whole
story of fireworks accidents. The ban
ming of the cannon cracker and the
constant safety warnings have reduced
outright fatalities, but the number of
injuries from small firecrackers and So
called harmless" sparklers remains
high. Nationwide figures are not
available, but in New York City alone
last year about 1000 persons, mostly
children, were treated for burns and in
juries caused by firecrackers or fire
works.
It is because of these many injuries
that the National Safety Council op-
poses the promiScuous sale of fire
crackers and fireworks, regardless of
size or character, except to adult auth
critics in charge of municipal cele-
brations. Asked for statement, w. II.
Cameron, managing director of the
Council, said:
"The National Safety Council is not
opposed to the use of fireworks pro-
vided such fireworks are set off by ex-
perienced adults Therefore, we urge
communities to hold municipal cele-
brations, which citizens, young and old,
can enjoy from safe distance without
participating directly in their use.
'The Council is, however, strongly op-
posed to the promiscous sale of fire
works, and urges that they be banned
by both municipal and state laws, ex-
cepting that properly appointed authori-
ties should have the right to purchase
them for community displays. State
laws are necessary to cope with the
common fireworks abootlegger' who sets
up stand just outside the city limits. "
As far as fatalities are concerned, the
two great hazards of the Fourth in our
modern type of celebration are traffic
accidents and drownings.
The changing type of celebration
calls for renewed effort along entirely
different lines for a safe and sane
Fourth. There must be a moral as well
as an official ban on carelessneSs and
recklessness on traffic jammed streets
and rural highways. The hazard is
great at all times, but on the Fourth
of July motorists seem to assume a holi-
day spirit which allows them to forget
their usual care and caution for the day.
With vast crowds thronging to the
beaches and picnic grounds it is nat
ural that drownings should reach their
peak on the Fourth. Natural, but need
less. The rules of safety in swimming
and boating are well known to almost
everyone and need only to be put into
practice to bring down the tragic toll
of drownings.