Wedding Fireworks, New Year Fireworks, Buy Fireworks, The Fireworkstore

Safety In Handling Fireworks

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 21:12:00 +0000

Safety In Handling Fireworks Enhances The Experience And Fun

Fun with fireworks is something that everybody loves no matter what is the occasion. You often find the best fireworks displays during beach parties or in coordinated fireworks for weddings. There is something in the colorful explosion of the fireworks that makes your heart sing. Almost all important celebrations would be incomplete without it and often people buy anything they find (legal or illegal) in order to appease their thirst for this type of fun.

Safety Is Paramount

It is important that you understand the reason why safety is important when you enjoy fireworks displays. There are far too many injuries and even tragedies that result from using illegal types of fireworks such as M-80s, ash cans, bottle rockets and cherry bombs. Of course, not all of these would accidentally explode when you are in too close proximity and cause you permanent damage; but the possibility is always there with the illegally sold fireworks.

The most common of injuries are eye injuries; there are also burns of all degrees, injured fingers, hands, severe burns, etc. In some cases there are even deaths. Are the risks worth it? Of course not. So what can be done to prevent such a critical outcome? Buy only legally sold fireworks because these have been tested and re-tested to the nth time for safety. Many of the very dangerous ones are controlled electronically which totally rules out personal danger while handling it; and the fun in unlimited.

Things You Need To Keep In Mind When Buying Fireworks

You need to have fun with pyrotechnics? By all means go ahead and enjoy it. Just keep in mind a few basics regarding your and your dear ones’ safety:

1. The name of the manufacturer should be clearly mentioned on the fireworks you are choosing to buy.

2. Check the manufacturing date on the product and buy it only if there is at least three months away from its expiry date.

3. Read the instructions carefully well before you are planning your fireworks display and follow these to the T. Do not leave reading instruction to the time when you want to light them for the celebration as at this time your excitement for the fireworks display would prevent you from paying too close attention to what is mentioned in the instructions and you could endanger yourself (and your dear ones).

4. There should be clear instructions regarding how to use the product safely.

5. Never light any type of fireworks – however safe you would think they are – in your hand. Rather have them on the ground or a table top and light them from at least two feet distance.

6. Aerial fireworks need to be buried half length (Roman Candles) in the earth before being ignited.

7. Before you use the fireworks these should be stored in a dry place away from anything that could – even by the remotest accident – ignite them.

8. Keep the fireworks away from children’s reach. Some of the worst accidents happen because the fireworks fall into the hands of children who play with these without any knowledge about the minimum safety guidelines.

9. Have your fireworks displays in an open place where there is no danger of igniting houses, cars or other such property.

10. Ensure you have made arrangements to handle a fire if it happens. Have a bucket of water and water source ready and/or a fire extinguisher for any eventuality.

11. Do not touch or kick the fireworks products that have just finished burning; such action can cause major burns.

12. Only adults should light the fireworks displays; have kids at safe distance and explain to them before hand how and where to dispose of sparklers and other such products that they would be playing with. The best is to have a bucket of water which can be used as a dustbin for fireworks.

13. Never bend over or pick up in your hand fireworks products that refuse to start.

Have Fun With Responsibility

It is simply great to enjoy fireworks displays as long as it is done with responsibility and care. Truly there is no celebration complete without a salve of fireworks at the end of it – whether it is the New Year’s or a wedding or a birthday party.

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Interesting Facts About Fireworks

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 21:10:00 +0000

Interesting Facts About Fireworks

It is generally accepted that fireworks were first discovered about 2000 years ago in China. The Chinese use fireworks regularly in all religious functions and celebrations, with the belief that the noise that they set off will frighten evil spirits. Fireworks were also used regularly in other Asian countries like Thailand and India. Although it is likely that the tradition of using fireworks for important religious and social occasions in all these countries had its origin in the belief that they could be useful in warding off evil spirits, today the greater motivation comes perhaps from the desire to have fun. Unlike the UK and other western countries, the sale and use of fireworks in many other countries are not strictly regulated, and almost anyone can buy and use them without many restrictions.

Fireworks in Britain

Fireworks were brought to the western world by the well-known globetrotter Marco Polo and European crusaders from the Middle East. In England the first recorded display of fireworks took place in 1486 during the wedding of King Henry VII. Later King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I made them popular. During this period, fireworks attained respectability and royal recognition. The position of a fireworks master was created by Queen Elizabeth I to take professional charge of all fireworks displays. It was left to King James II to elevate this position to the level of nobility when he knighted a fireworks master in recognition of a spectacular and exceptional display organized by him at the coronation ceremony of the king.

Fireworks in Europe

The Italians have been major contributors to the development of fireworks as an engaging form of art, adding variety and fascination to the shows. Florence in Italy had become a centre of fireworks manufacture by the 15th century. The Italians regularly used plaster figures that gave out fire from their eyes and mouths in their festivals. The coronation ceremony of Anne Boleyn was perhaps one of the first royal occasion in which such a display was employed. Subsequently, fireworks gained popularity among the royalty of Europe. King Louis XV of France encouraged extravagant fireworks displays. The credit for organizing one of the longest shows in those early days probably should go to the Czar of Russia, Peter the Great, when a five hour long show was held to celebrate the birth of a son to the czar.

Some interesting facts

The Japanese word for firecrackers reflects the popular view that fireworks are an art form and a matter of great beauty. Fireworks in Japanese are called hanabi, which literally means fire-flower.

The largest single firework was organized by the Japanese at a festival in 1988 with a single shell that weighed more than half a ton, and burst over an area that spread over a kilometre across.

A string of firecrackers that went on and on lasting 22 hours marked the New Years day celebrations in Hong Kong in 1996.

Static electricity in synthetic clothing can set off firecrackers. Because of this, people making firecrackers wear only cotton clothing while making firecrackers.

The biggest annual fireworks display event in Europe is the International Festival concert held in Edinburgh, Scotland, in which as many as a million fireworks are set off in less than an hour.

Funchal city of Madeira Island organized a Guinness world record event in fireworks with a display that included 17 tons of fireworks, and more than 660, 000 detonations that lasted for eight minutes.

University of Plymouth Scientist Roy Lowry claims to have set a new record by setting off 55,000 rockets in five seconds.

The Spirit of Springfield, which was set up in 1989 to promote community activities in the area organizes hi-tech 4th of July celebrations that is full of interesting facts. The show is studded with choreography, music and fireworks fired by a computer programme and involving massive inputs in terms of manpower, setup time and equipment that includes several miles of wire, tons of sand, and lumber that is sufficient to build an average sized house. The fireworks show features designer shells from a more than half a dozen countries.

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History of Fireworks

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 21:09:00 +0000

History of Fireworks

The history of fireworks dates back to nearly two thousand years. A cook in China is generally supposed to have discovered fireworks accidentally when he mixed three ingredients that were commonly used in the kitchen in those days, namely sulphur, charcoal and potassium nitrate (salt peter). When these three ingredients were dried and lighted, the mixture was found to ignite. When this mixture was packed into a closed bamboo tube and lit, it built up an enormous pressure and exploded. The Chinese gave this the name ‘huo yao”, which literally means fire chemical. There are other theories about the origin of fireworks that suggest that it might have been of a more recent origin, dating back to a little over 1000 years, and invented by a Chinese monk who lived in the Hunan province in China. In any case, it is generally accepted that the Chinese invented fireworks more than at least one thousand years ago.

Celebrating with fireworks

Fireworks were initially used during religious ceremonies, celebrations such as birthdays, and other special occasions, as indeed they are till today. The reason for using fireworks in religious functions and celebrations seems to lie in the belief that the loud bang created by fireworks had the capacity to frighten away evil spirits.

As time passed it was but natural that someone should see the potential of this explosive substance in warfare. It is said that the Chinese themselves were aware of this soon after they discovered fireworks and used it to develop weapons such as fire arrows that had a great effect on their enemies.

Fireworks in Warfare

It is believed that fireworks were brought to the west by Marco Polo, who was a frequent visitor to China, and European crusaders in the Middle East. The potential of these chemicals for causing destruction did not escape the early scholars in the West, but it was almost another 300 years before scientists could work out the exact formula that could become lethal, and cause a sufficiently strong explosion. They discovered that a mixture of Salt Peter, Charcoal, and Sulphur in the proportion of 75%, 15% and 10% respectively produced the desired results, and graduated to employing gunpowder in warfare using these proportions, which incidentally are valid even today.

The use of gunpowder revolutionized warfare disarming most invincible defences of the day. Thus canons and guns made armours and fort walls susceptible to being broken down and penetrated.

Fireworks as an art form

Although military uses of gunpowder did revolutionize warfare, the recreational and artistic aspects of fireworks did not lose their sheen. Fireworks are as popular the world over today as a means of celebration as they were in the earlier days of their history. The Italians have played a great part in developing fireworks into a truly art form. Italians developed new applications that could provide a variety of visual delights. Some of the products that the Italians developed included aerial shells that could shoot up into the air and explode or burst into a fountain of colours at a great height. They also developed a number of fireworks that operated at the ground level. They discovered a powder that burnt more slowly and gave out sparks of different colons when contained in an open-ended tube. More elaborate forms were developed using rocket engines that made them to rotate and give off circular sparks of different colours. As the art form developed, the industry employed specialists and professionals from other fields such as masons, carpenters and painters. The Germans are also credited with having contributed to the development of fireworks. The American fireworks industry is dominated by these groups.

Fireworks also became popular in England and enjoyed royal support in many cases. The eighteenth century saw fireworks become a matter of public displays in England rather than for the private pleasure of Royalty alone. The English can be credited with popularising fireworks as huge crowds from all over Europe were attracted to fireworks displays at amusement parks in England.

China has continued to dominate the fireworks production scene in the world with its Hunan and Jiangxi provinces accounting for a major share of the world trade in fireworks. Earlier these were channelled through state owned marketing corporations that sold to the world through intermediaries in Hong Kong. With the opening up of the Chinese economy, direct trade has taken over in most cases.

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Fireworks for Schools

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:51:00 +0000

Fireworks for Schools

The concept of fireworks for schools implies some very special attention because of various reasons. This is because fireworks, while providing a lot of fun and entertainment, can also be very dangerous, since they are, after all, explosive materials that can go off at the wrong time or place, injuring many people at a time. Consequently, there are a number of issues that need to be kept in mind while organizing fireworks for schools. At the top of the list comes safety, because a large number of young children may be involved. The importance of safety while organizing fireworks for schools can be easily appreciated from the fact that a majority of victims in fireworks related accidents are young children. Children are also likely to enjoy fireworks more than their adult counterparts, so the rewards in terms of appreciation and enjoyment will be much greater. Fireworks for schools can also build in a lot of educational value. Fireworks for schools, therefore, need some very special, and also a different set of, considerations.

Safety considerations

The British Government organizes regular campaigns that highlight the safety aspects related to fireworks. These need to be followed with greater attention in the case of fireworks for schools. Some of the points that are normally stressed in these campaigns include engaging professionals to organize the fireworks, and following the prescribed safety codes, including the use of only standard fireworks that are BS 7114 compliant. Professional organizations undertaking fireworks displays are regulated by the Health and Safety Executive, which provides advice and guidance to these organizations. Coupled with their own experience and expertise, the benefit that they derive from such guidance, will place the professional firms in a much better position to organize safe display of fireworks for schools.

Educational Value

The educational value associated with fireworks for schools can also be easily appreciated. It is said that a single picture can convey what a thousand words fail to do. Fireworks for schools, if organized imaginatively, can include a number of educational inputs that are sure to make an impression on the minds of young school children. As of now, unfortunately, this is a neglected area, as perhaps the potential that fireworks hold in education is overlooked, or because fireworks are viewed purely as a medium of entertainment. However, if you are planning any display of fireworks for schools, you can keep this aspect also in mind. Moreover, fireworks are, in the ultimate analysis, nothing but chemicals, and the explosions and bright sparks are the result of chemical reactions. Fireworks for schools can take advantage of this fact to stimulate interest in the materials that go into the making of fireworks, and encourage the children to enquire into the question of how they work. Most children are sure to be curious about these aspects after seeing a fascinating display of fireworks. A question and answer session preceding, or immediately following, a display of fireworks for schools can admirably serve the purpose of providing information on these aspects as well as stimulating the curiosity and interest of the children for further knowledge.

Creating Awareness

Fireworks for schools can also highlight the hazardous side of fireworks, and the need for following safety rules. Children can see the pollution that fireworks give rise to, and hence appreciate the need to organize fireworks in suitable open spaces, and also understand the measures that need to be taken to avoid pollution and minimize its effects. At the same time, a programme of fireworks for schools can also include a brief education on the potential risks that are associated with fireworks, and the precautions that need to be taken to safeguard oneself against them. One good way to do this would be to include a list of safety points to be followed while making the announcement regarding the programme of fireworks. This forum could also be used to publicize the safety code that the government has prepared. Statistics detailing the nature of injuries and the demography of the victims can also be displayed. By including these considerations while organizing fireworks for schools, you can contribute to making the school children, who are exposed to this information better aware of these facts when they play with fireworks outside school. This will also help them to grow up as more responsible and knowledgeable citizens.

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Fireworks for Events

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:49:00 +0000

Fireworks for events

A variety of events are organized by us at various times, and very often arranging displays of fireworks for events is one of the matters that engage our attention. Fireworks can add fun and variety to any event, and help in driving home a point more forcefully. Fireworks can also make any event more memorable. This fact was recognized hundreds of years ago, and fireworks were part of important events in the past. The only difference is that in those days, fireworks for events were restricted to Royalty and a few highly placed individuals. Today, you can afford to include a display of fireworks for events that you organize, if you want to. However, you also take on an enormous responsibility in terms of the safety of your guests, when you think of fireworks for events.

Different types of events

Events are of different types and can be private and individual, or involve a group or an organization. While the basic considerations in both cases will be the same, and will centre on providing wholesome and memorable entertainment that comes with full safety precautions, the nature of the responsibility, and the extent to which it can be shared, could vary considerably in the two cases. Again, the considerations behind organizing fireworks for events could be very different depending on whether it is a private and individual event, or an organizational event. For example, an organizational event could be the opening of a new branch or the launching of a product. In these cases, you want your guests to not only enjoy the fun but also experience greater recall of your product. Fireworks for events would have a different meaning in such cases, as you may like to somehow include the features of the product, or the advantages of the new branch, through the fireworks (if possible). In a private event such as a wedding, the major consideration is fun. The guests are all your personal friends, and you just want to make the event memorable. There is a lot of sentiment that is attached to the event. Fireworks for events in this case means catering to these sentiments, and providing wholesome fun that people would recall years later, and that you can talk about to your children.

Organizing Fireworks for events

While the nature of the event would definitely affect the theme selection and the choice of fireworks, organizing fireworks for events will require certain steps that will have to be followed irrespective of the nature of the event. First of all fireworks for events should ensure the safety (and also the comfort) of all the guests. There may be a small difference in this aspect depending on whether it is your private event, or one concerning an organization, because in the case of the latter, you may have more persons to share your thoughts with, and may be able to enjoy the comfort of knowing that all the responsibility is not on your shoulders alone. In the case of a private event, even though you may take the help of close friends and relatives, ultimately the decision as well as the responsibility will be totally yours and yours alone. However, in both cases, you are to a very great extent responsible for the content and safety of the programme.

Getting it done through professionals

While organizing fireworks for events, the first thing that you must remember is that in these days of professionalism, there is no need to take on responsibilities that you are not qualified to handle yourself. There are enough professional organizations available to help you with organizing fireworks for events. Just make sure that you choose the right one. The right firm will have a team of professionals trained and experienced in setting up displays of fireworks for events. Cross check with satisfied users who have engaged the services of the firm that you are considering to organize fireworks for events. Make sure that the firm uses BS 7114 compliant material, and that it is procured from reputable sources. Discuss the details of the programme with the firm to ensure that they come up with something that would suit the nature of the event that you are organizing. With some planning and a little bit of care, fireworks for events can become truly enjoyable.

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