Sparklers are Safe? No, They're Not!

This is a time for celebration, joy and pride for our country. Our men and women overseas are protecting our freedoms here. Each year we celebrate the birth of our nation with picnics, parties and, of course, fireworks.

Robyn Monaghan recently posted an article on Plainfield Patch that questions whether sparklers, smoke bombs and other legal, store-bought fireworks are "safe" for children to use. I have an answer for you.

For five years, I volunteered at the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance camp "I Am Me." This summer camp allows kids who have survived their burn injuries to have a week of fun in their lives and feel "normal." Many of these children were burned in house fires and household accidents.

However, a substantial number of them were injured because their parent handed them a sparkler. That sparkler burns at a temperature as high as 2,000 degrees. At that temperature, metal will melt. 

It frightens me that a parent would scream at their child for going near an oven set at 400 degrees, yet will turn around and hand them a soldering gun.

The children at camp I Am Me are there to forget about what they deal with on a daily basis. They lose so much more than you realize. They have no self confidence. They wear sweaters in the dead of summer so no one can see their scars. The simple activity of going to the pool is a nightmare due to the stares and whispers about their appearence.

My children have never "played" with fireworks. Even the safe ones. No firework is safe. If you think they are, I will introduce you to a couple 8-years-olds who would disagree with you.

And before you ask me, Well, how do you know, I will tell you this: I am a burn survivor. I have lived their life. Please don't make your kids live ours. Put away the sparklers.