Safety & Sales for Fireworks Increases as New Year's Eve Approaches

Safety & Sales for Fireworks Increases as New Year's Eve Approaches

(Youngstown, OH) - Use of consumer fireworks is up dramatically up of late, much of the increased use related to the New Year's Eve holiday driven by the millenium celebrations of 1999 and 2000, according to Bruce J. Zoldan, president of Phantom Fireworks, a national retailer of fireworks products.

Accoring to information released by the U.S. International Trade Commission, the amount of fireworks imported into the U.S. grew by almost 18% from 2001 to 2002 alone. Over the past 25 years, the use of pyrotechnics by Americans ahs increased 550%, growing from 29 million pounds in 1976 to 190 million pounds in 2002.

"Americans are using fireworks for New Year's Eve, birthdays and many other family celebrations in addition to the traditional Independence Day holiday," said Zoldan. "People are coming to realize that fireworks add to all celebrations, not just the patriotic ones."

This year the Consumer Product Safety Commission has approved some wonderfully entertaining items for consumer use, including the new 500 gram aerial repeaters and ground-based fountains. "These items are the most powerful the CPCS has ever approved, and they provide great wholesome family entertainment," said Zoldan.

Jerry Bostocky, Board member of the National Council on Fireworks Safety, reminds us that "safety is the watchword of the fireworks industry. Follow all the rules and visit fireworks.com for specifics. Let's make sure all our pro celebrations are safe ones."