Testimony of Jack, Robin & Stephanie Shannon, Ohio Fireworks Safety Coalition — HB 172 (April 21, 2021)

Summary

Testimony of Jack, Robin and Stephanie Shannon, Members of the Ohio Fireworks Safety Coalition, opposing HB 172, Fireworks Legalization and Regulation, dated April 21, 2021. The testimony recounts a fourth of July family reunion in Kentucky where a firework missile tipped over and struck the witnesses' son, who was almost 4 years old and died of complications the next day. It states that of the fireworks samples tested in 2019, 46% of the products failed to meet FSHA government standards. It urges the Committee to vote No because these products are not safe in the hands of inexperienced consumers.

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                   Testimony of Jack, Robin & Stephanie Shannon
                   Members of the Ohio Fireworks Safety Coalition
                   HB 172—Fireworks Legalization and Regulation
                                   April 21, 2021


Chairman Stein, Vice Chair Johnson, Ranking Member Lepore-Hagan, and Members of the
Commerce and Labor Committee, thank you for allowing us to express our opposition of
House Bill 172, which would allow consumers in Ohio to use bottle rockets, firecrackers,
ground sparklers and missiles (1.4g explosive fireworks). Advocates say these products are
safe but our family’s experience is quite different.


Our son Michael was almost 4 years old when we attended a family reunion over the fourth
of July in Kentucky. We had a great day visiting with family, playing games, fishing and of
course eating. The evening festivities included a consumer fireworks display put on by
responsible family members. Little did anyone know that one firework had enough force to
cause the Missile’s base to rock, allowing it to tip over and fire across a field towards the
crowd of spectators. Michael was standing between his father’s legs as the missile launched
horizontally across the field. He had reflex time to turn his head before it hit and knocked
him to the ground. He was unconscious for a brief time and awoke to severe pain from his
injury. We stood by helpless to relieve his pain. Michael endured an open skull fracture with
damage similar to a shotgun blast at close range. He had extensive surgery but died of
complications the next day.

As parents, you want to believe that you can protect your children. We thought these
fireworks were safe because they were legal to buy and use. That did not turn out to be the
case.

Fireworks continue to hurt people and cause significant damage to property. Nearly half of
serious fireworks’ injuries affect innocent bystanders like Michael and over 36% of those
injuries are to children under the age of 15! From 2006 to 2012, injuries to children have
increased nationwide as restrictions are relaxed. During this time over 90,000 children
suffered burn injuries. The number of children hospitalized increased as did the length of
time admitted. Allowing increased consumer access will not decrease these numbers!
This bill opens up wide unrestricted use of all types of 1.4G fireworks potentially at any time
of the day or night. These fireworks are explosive devices and are especially unpredictable.
It is unreasonable to believe that consumers will have any idea how these varied products
will work. Additionally, the quality of the products being imported is unacceptable. Of the
fireworks samples tested in 2019 by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and US
Customs and Border Protection, 46% of the products failed to meet FSHA government
standards. Most of the violations are related to fuse time and overloaded report.
Unfortunately, only a small percentage of products are tested, so the rest of these defective
products make it to market and are sold to unsuspecting consumers.

The cost of additional fireworks access by consumers will be, increased property damage,
increased injuries, and increased hospital and medical expenses that someone will have to
pay. The National Fire Protection Agency states an estimated 19,500 fires started by fireworks
were reported to local fire departments in the US during 2018. These fires caused five civilian
deaths, 46 civilian injuries and $105 million in direct property damage.

In closing, do you know a veteran or someone who struggles with PTSD? Do you have a family
member who has dementia? Have you ever been in the hospital or at home recovering from
surgery or an illness? Do you have pets or livestock? You cannot prepare them for these
unexpected scary noises or experiences that may send them into a state of panic or worse
back to a traumatic experience that they have had.

As legislators, you have the opportunity to keep Ohio citizens safer by “Voting NO” to this
bill because these products are not safe in the hands of inexperienced consumers. Ohioans
can still have fireworks as part of their celebrations by attending professional displays. They
can also create new traditions that show patriotism without fireworks, like patriotic cooking
contests, posters, flags or many other things that are safe traditions for your family. Please
think long and hard about the broad ramifications of this bill. Thank you for your time and
consideration.

Sincerely,

Jack, Robin and Stephanie Shannon
Ohio Fireworks Safety Coalition
1500 W. 3rd Avenue, Suite 200
Columbus, OH 43212
Michael Shannon, Age 3


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