ON INDEPENDENCE DAY LEAVE FIREWORKS CELEBRATIONS TO THE PROFESSIONALS – AND THAT MEANS SPARKLERS, TOO

With Proper Planning, People of All Ages Can Enjoy a Safe 4th of July

NEW YORK, JUNE 25, 2001 – With the Fourth of July approaching, the nonprofit NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) and the Atlantic Mutual Companies suggest parents teach their children to leave fireworks to the pros, don’t touch them and leave the area if others do.

In 1999, according to the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), approximately 8,500 people suffered fireworks-related injuries severe enough to require emergency room treatment -- and nearly 40 percent of those injured were under the age of 14.

Even sparklers can burn as hot as 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit and can cause severe contact burns and ignite clothing.

“Research indicates that children from 10 to 14 years of age are at the highest risk for fireworks-related injuries, with 15- to 19-year-olds close behind,” said Daniel H. Olmsted, senior vice president, Personal Insurance Division, Atlantic Mutual Companies. “Most of these injuries could be prevented if children, as well as adults, let trained professionals handle fireworks displays. And that means staying away from sparklers, too.”

To help prevent fireworks injuries to children, Atlantic Mutual and the NFPA have developed a list of fireworks safety tips that follow NFPA’s Risk Watch® philosophy of injury prevention. Developed by the NFPA and available for classroom instruction, Risk Watch® teaches children how to evaluate as well as avoid potentially dangerous situations.

Fireworks Safety Tips

  • Teach children about the physical danger of fireworks. Without using scare tactics, explain to children that fireworks are not toys and can cause serious permanent damage such as blindness, hearing loss and disfigurement, as well as result in the loss of fingers or hands.
  • Fireworks should never be touched. Children should never approach or touch any type of fireworks, or be in an area where amateurs are using fireworks. They should be instructed to leave such areas and notify an adult, who should then contact the fire department immediately.
  • Sit back and enjoy the professional displays. The safest way to enjoy the Fourth of July is to let the pros handle the fireworks displays. Children and adults alike should give the pros plenty of room to work and adhere to all safety regulations and signs.
  • Provide alternate ways to celebrate. Give children noisemakers, hats, horns, confetti and streamers to celebrate the Fourth. This will keep them entertained and out of harms way.
  • Set a good example. Since children often mirror adult behavior, it is important to act responsibly when dealing with fireworks and all heat sources. Don’t permit your children to use any fireworks, even sparklers. Report any unauthorized fireworks sales, use, storage and manufacture to police or fire departments, and leave the displays to the trained professionals.

“Picnics, parades, ballgames, concerts in the park, barbecues, pools and professional community firework displays are on the agendas of many Americans for the Fourth of July holiday,” commented Meri-K Appy, vice president of public education, NFPA. “When On Independence Day Leave Fireworks Celebrations to the Professionals deciding between the pool versus the beach, a cookout versus takeout or Arthur Fiedler versus John Philip Sousa, adults should also consider their options when it comes to fireworks and the disastrous risks associated when amateurs handle them. Always choose the pros over amateur use.”

For additional facts and figures on fireworks safety and the Risk Watch® fireworks safety lesson plan for children please visit www.fireworks.org.

Established in 1896, the international nonprofit NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) has as its mission to reduce the burden of fire on the quality of life by advocating scientifically based consensus codes and standards, research and education for fire and related safety issues. The association publishes a wide variety of educational and safety materials, including the National Fire Codes®, and is developer of the Risk Watch® comprehensive injury prevention curriculum and the Learn Not to Burn® fire safety curriculum. NFPA headquarters is in Quincy, Mass.

About The Atlantic Companies

The Atlantic Companies, also known as Atlantic Mutual, is a group of diversified financial services companies with a Wall Street heritage dating back to 1842. The group is widely known for the Atlantic Master Plan insurance program, which is designed specifically for affluent individuals and sold through a select group of independent agents. The Atlantic Companies acts as a property-casualty insurer, manages claims for commercial insurance, and helps other business partners target profitable niches in the insurance marketplace. Additional information about The Atlantic Companies and the Atlantic Master Plan can be found at www.atlanticmasterplan.com.


Contact: Peter G. Scott
Corporate Marketing & Communications
973-408-6044