As families and friends begin to gather again in celebration of Independence Day, police advise people to take caution before lighting up the skies.For MaKayla Hansard, photos serve as a reminder of what she survived."My parents were 63 feet away in the field lighting the fireworks," Hansard recounts. "One fell over and hit me in the face."Hansard was just 7 years old when she was flown to Cincinnati Shriners Hospital from Tennessee. She had third-degree burns to the lips, chin, and cheeks."To some people, are worth it, they just need to use more caution," Hansard said.That's a sentiment also held by the Cincinnati Police Department."I've been doing this 25 years. When you show up and someone loses a hand, it's not a pretty picture," said Sgt. Eric Franz.Just last year, a local Navy veteran died from a firework he lit himself.Fireworks also impose environmental risks when not disposed of properly."We encourage everybody to pick up your trash, throw it in a trash can that has water in it and make sure you submerge them so they don't reignite and start a fire," Franz said.Although you can purchase fireworks in Ohio, setting them off in the state is illegal. The only fireworks that are legal in the state are of the trick and novelty variety, like smokes, sparklers and snaps.Anyone who misuses fireworks in Ohio can be charged with a first-degree misdemeanor and can be sentenced up to 6 months in prison.
As families and friends begin to gather again in celebration of Independence Day, police advise people to take caution before lighting up the skies.
For MaKayla Hansard, photos serve as a reminder of what she survived.
"My parents were 63 feet away in the field lighting the fireworks," Hansard recounts. "One fell over and hit me in the face."
Hansard was just 7 years old when she was flown to Cincinnati Shriners Hospital from Tennessee. She had third-degree burns to the lips, chin, and cheeks.
"To some people, [fireworks] are worth it, they just need to use more caution," Hansard said.
That's a sentiment also held by the Cincinnati Police Department.
"I've been doing this 25 years. When you show up and someone loses a hand, it's not a pretty picture," said Sgt. Eric Franz.
Just last year, a local Navy veteran died from a firework he lit himself.
Fireworks also impose environmental risks when not disposed of properly.
"We encourage everybody to pick up your trash, throw it in a trash can that has water in it and make sure you submerge them so they don't reignite and start a fire," Franz said.
Although you can purchase fireworks in Ohio, setting them off in the state is illegal. The only fireworks that are legal in the state are of the trick and novelty variety, like smokes, sparklers and snaps.
Anyone who misuses fireworks in Ohio can be charged with a first-degree misdemeanor and can be sentenced up to 6 months in prison.
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