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Spring ? Summer - St. Margaret's Hospital

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Though the team can’t see the display, they can hear the cheers and<br />

applause of the spectators. For Dr. Louie, being surrounded by the noise<br />

and excitement is even better than watching the show. “Everyone likes<br />

fireworks, and it’s fun being right in the middle of it,” he says. “I also enjoy<br />

working with a great group of guys who care about their community.”<br />

Paul says that viewers can expect a good show this year, thanks to<br />

contributions that allowed them to boost their budget by about<br />

$2,000. “And this is at a time when a lot of other communities are<br />

scaling back,” reflects Paul appreciatively.<br />

Fireworks Safety<br />

The Consumer Products Safety Commission estimates that there were 9,800<br />

fireworks-related injuries in 2007, with children under 15 accounting for 42<br />

percent of the estimated injuries. To keep you and your family members<br />

from becoming one of these statistics, remember the following rules:<br />

• Follow local laws—in Illinois, only sparklers, snake/glow worm<br />

pellets, smoke devices and trick noisemakers are permitted. Other<br />

consumer fireworks are prohibited.<br />

• Do not allow young children to play with fireworks under any<br />

circumstances. Sparklers burn at very high temperatures and can<br />

easily ignite clothing. Children cannot understand the danger involved<br />

and cannot act appropriately in case of emergency. Older children<br />

(12 and over) should only be permitted to use fireworks under close<br />

adult supervision. Do not allow any running or horseplay.<br />

• Light fireworks outdoors in a clear area away from houses, dry<br />

leaves or grass and flammable materials. Make sure other people are<br />

out of range.<br />

• Keep a bucket of water or a hose on hand for emergencies and for<br />

soaking fireworks that malfunction.<br />

• Do not try to relight or handle malfunctioning fireworks. Douse and<br />

soak them with water and throw them away.<br />

• Never ignite fireworks in a container, especially a glass or metal<br />

container.<br />

• Keep unused fireworks away from firing areas. <strong>St</strong>ore fireworks in a<br />

cool, dry place. Check instructions for special storage directions.<br />

• Never have any portion of your body directly over a firework while<br />

lighting.<br />

• Do not experiment with homemade fireworks. Only use fireworks as<br />

they are intended; do not try to alter or combine them.<br />

spirit | spring.summer 2009 35

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