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Testimony of Tabitha Jones-McKnight, Ohio Chapter — House Bill 253, Fireworks Legalization

Summary

Ohio Chapter testimony of Tabitha Jones-McKnight, DO, FACOP, on House Bill 253, Fireworks Legalization, dated June 3rd, 2020, before the House Commerce and Labor Committee. Tabitha Jones-McKnight speaks on behalf of the nearly 3,000 members of the Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics to urge opposition to House Bill 253. The testimony cites the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's 2017 Fireworks Report for approximately 12,900 injuries treated at hospital emergency rooms that year, with 36% of injuries to children younger than 15 years of age. It closes by urging the committee to oppose HB 253.

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“Testimony of Tabitha Jones-McKnight, Ohio Chapter — House Bill 253, Fireworks Legalization.” Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/2020-06-03-commerce-labor-testimony-ohioaaphb253updated-5c4163a4ef/, SHA-256 33804a2fb243cc552a1254b62686127cec4304be3bd0e3012bb9e2fd8d48995f.

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                       Ohio Chapter

            Testimony of Tabitha Jones-McKnight, DO, FACOP
                       House Bill 253 – Fireworks Legalization
                                    June 3rd, 2020

Chairman Manning, Vice Chair Dean, Ranking Member Lepore-Hagan, and members of
the House Commerce and Labor Committee, thank you for the opportunity to provide
testimony today. My name is Tabitha Jones-McKnight and I am here today on behalf of
the nearly 3,000 members of the Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
to urge your opposition to House Bill 253.

As a pediatrician and member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on
Injury, Violence, and Poison Prevention, I care deeply for the health and safety of our
children. I am sure that you all feel the same way. I am proud to reside in a state that
cares enough about child safety to prohibit the discharge of consumer fireworks, and I
hope the committee will maintain that commitment.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s 2017 Fireworks Report,
fireworks were responsible for approximately 12,900 injuries treated at hospital
emergency rooms that year; the report also attributed eight fatalities to fireworks
discharge. This data does not capture injuries treated at other facilities, including
outpatient clinics, trauma centers, and urgent care centers. Here are some interesting
facts about these 12,900 injuries—

o In 2017, 36% of fireworks related injuries were to children younger than 15 years
  of age. 50% of fireworks related injuries were to individuals younger than 20 years
  of age;

o Children ages 10 to 14 had the highest rate of ER visits for fireworks related injuries
  of any age group (5.9 injuries per 100,000 people).

o Nearly half of fireworks related injuries are to individuals not directly involved in
  the discharge of fireworks;

o Injuries have increased from 8,600 in 2010 to 12,900 in 2017, which is a 50%
  increase.
Further, a 2016 research project presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting
found that, as states relaxed laws related to fireworks discharge during the past
decade, emergency doctors saw an increase in both the number of fireworks related
injuries among children and the severity of those injuries. This report, combined with
the documented increase in fireworks injuries in recent years, clearly demonstrates
that the relaxing of fireworks laws in by other states is driving an increase in injuries.
I do not believe now is the time for Ohio to contribute to this trend.

Further, many critics of Ohio’s fireworks law will tell you that the law is often
disregarded or not enforced. Every year, we see news reports across the state of
injuries to children and damage to property resulting from fireworks discharge.
Despite a statewide ban on consumer discharge, we are still seeing the negative effects
of consumer fireworks usage. However, this is not a justification for repealing the
current prohibition on 1.4g fireworks discharge.

Fireworks are inherently dangerous and we should consider what kind of statement
we will make as a state by repealing the consumer fireworks ban. Many supporters of
HB 253 would argue that people ought to have the right to discharge fireworks on their
property as a display of freedom. Indeed, in a few weeks many of us will gather to
celebrate Independence Day with our family and friends and enjoy public fireworks
displays. Some Ohioans will purchase and discharge consumer fireworks, and
inevitably others will be injured as a result.

Passage of HB 253 would result in a statewide declaration that fireworks are not
dangerous; the statistics say otherwise. In closing, I urge the committee to oppose HB
253. It is my hope that Ohio will continue to stand up for child health and safety. Thank
you for your time and I would be happy to answer any questions that you might have.

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