Mannie's days were numbered from the start.
In the end, she went out in a blaze of glory, but nonetheless, her fate was not what most people want to face on the Fourth of July. And that is precisely the point.
Christy Wooten/The Daily Sentinel |
Nacogdoches Fire Department Division Chief Del Birdwell fires Roman candles at Mannie the Mannequin, showing off the wrong way to use fireworks.
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As millions of Americans celebrate Independence Day this July 4, there's one part of the festivities as inextricably linked to the holiday as hot dogs and the American Flag — fireworks. While these staples of July 4 gatherings are fun and safe when used legally and correctly, there is also a wrong way to use them. That's where Mannie comes in.
On Wednesday, in advance of the holiday, The Daily Sentinel teamed up with the Nacogdoches Fire Department to build Mannie, a modified mannequin, as a way of showing off the potential danger when fireworks are used irresponsibly. Under carefully controlled conditions outside the city limits, Division Chief Del Birdwell subjected the unfortunate dummy to a series of experiments, each meant to show off the consequences of some bad, if common, firework behavior.
The first round tested the effects of mini-explosives when they go off too soon, while still in someone's hand. To simulate a human hand, Birdwell fixed the M-60 firecracker to a pig's foot, whose flesh is similar to a human's. Several seconds after Birdwell lit the fuse, a satisfying bang echoed from Manny's limb. Even with a small noisemaker, the damage was severe.
Finding the hoof split down the middle from the force of the blast, Birdwell summed up what he saw. "It did some significant burning," he said. "You would need to go to the hospital."
Next, Birdwell tested a common situation, when rocket- or mortar-style fireworks are discharged toward a person, either by accident or in an ill-advised "Roman candle war." After several rounds of tests, when two different sized fireworks had been launched at Mannie, the mannequin's clothes were on fire and its body badly burned.
"That would have a created a substantial burn on somebody," Birdwell said, pointing to scorch marks on Mannie's torso. "That's definitely a hospital burn, right there."
After the last demonstration, in which Roman candles were fired directly into Mannie's styrofoam head, there was nothing left but the burning shell of a once-jubilant Fourth of July reveler.
Such experiments, of course, assumes the worst case scenario. But Mannie's misfortune also serves as a prescient reminder of the need for safety around fireworks.
"Everybody likes fireworks, and they can be a good safe addition to your holiday," Birdwell said.
Following the rules, however, is crucial. Fireworks are only legal to buy, possess or discharge outside the city limits. They should always be lit under close adult supervision and always according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Traci Drewery, whose family has sold fireworks in Nacogdoches for more than 30 years, said that common sense rules can keep everyone safe and having a good time.
"Watch each other's back, and make sure everything is done safely. And don't mix fireworks and alcohol," she said. By using the fireworks safely, Drewery said, everyone will keep fond memories, as she has from years of celebrations past. "I just remember that from when I was a child, going to fireworks shows, seeing all the big ones that burst in the sky."
Lighting fireworks this week, which has been unseasonably hot and dry, carries the extra risk of starting a fire. Always be sure the area around the fireworks is clear and free from flammable material.
County Judge Joe English said careful preparations will keep the risk of fire in check. "Certainly I would caution them in doing that to maybe have some water on standby or something just in case it gets out of hand," English said.
Something about fireworks, their dazzling display of color and light has captured the imagination for generations who have celebrated U.S. independence. Even without dangerous modifications and risky behavior, firecrackers are a fun tribute to the success of the American Revolution and its legacy of freedom.
And so it pays to avoid risky behavior when you light a fuse this Fourth of July, Birdwell said.
"It's not a good idea, at all," he said, as the flaming mannequin was doused by a fire hose. "Nice to know you, Mannie."
To help celebrate safely this Fourth of July, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Council on Fireworks Safety offer the following safety tips:
Always read and follow label directions.
Have an adult present.
Buy from reliable sellers.
Use outdoors only.
Always have water handy (a garden hose and a bucket).
Never experiment or make your own fireworks.
Light only one firework at a time.
Never re-light a "dud" firework (wait 15 to 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water).
Never give fireworks to small children.
If necessary, store fireworks in a cool, dry place.
Dispose of fireworks properly by soaking them in water and then disposing of them in your trash can.
Never throw or point fireworks at other people.
Never carry fireworks in your pocket.
Never shoot fireworks in metal or glass containers.
The shooter should always wear eye protection and never have any part of the body over the firework.
Stay away from illegal explosives.
Source: www.fireworksafety.com/safety.htm
