"Together.Safe": Warning Against Illegal Fireworks on New Year's Eve
Lighting illegal fireworks and similar "is not a minor offense, but can be a deadly danger," said Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) on Tuesday about the danger of illegal pyrotechnics. Karner reminded that just last weekend 150 pieces of illegal pyrotechnics were seized at the Floridsdorfer train station in Vienna, last year there were over 4,600 pyrotechnic items alone on New Year's Eve and thus almost twice as many as the year before, because "the control pressure has been increased" said Karner.
Numerous Accidents Due to Illegal Pyrotechnics Last New Year's Eve
In the run-up to the New Year, controls are being stepped up at the borders, especially the one to the Czech Republic is particularly sensitive here. But it is also about educating young people about the dangers of ball bombs and fireworks, said the Interior Minister, referring to the "Celebrate New Year's Eve, but do it right!" folder, which provides this information. The necessity is shown by the 70 accidents with some seriously injured people, which were registered by the police at the last New Year's Eve, Karner explained - and a higher number of unreported cases can be assumed. Christian Schimanofsky from the Board of Trustees for Traffic Safety (KFV) estimated the number of injuries due to improper use of pyrotechnics throughout the year at around 200 to 400, young men aged 15 to 25 would account for more than half of the accidents. And as for illegal pyrotechnics, even ordering them over the Internet is prohibited, Schimanofsky reminded.
Problematic Due to Illegal Imports of Illegal Pyrotechnics
Legal norms would generally allow good handling of pyrotechnics. Unfortunately, however, it is the illegal import that brings about the problem. The self-endangerment begins here already with the transport, not only with the ignition. Dieter Funke from the Chamber of Commerce emphasized that, on the other hand, the Austrian trade with permitted pyrotechnics is safe, the dangers can be managed with information. The explosive power of illegal pyrotechnics is partly comparable to the explosive power of a hand grenade. "0.4 grams was the flash charge in the Swiss cracker," said John Eberhardt from the Interior Ministry's bomb disposal service. These products, also known as "pirates", have not been allowed to be sold in Austria with such a bang since 2013 and were often the cause of serious injuries. "Now there are up to 300 grams in an explosive device on an illegal basis," Eberhardt continued. For comparison: A hand grenade has the effect of 40 grams.
(APA/Red)
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