Last year, there was an estimated crowd of 250,000 people who attended the Nashville, TN fireworks and Fourth of July festivities. That sounds like a lot of people, except Boston hosts half a million spectators each year for their annual event. And there will be millions of spectators on balconies, rooftops and riverbanks to watch the Fourth of July fireworks extravaganza in New York City.
There are plenty of articles about keeping crowds safe from accidental firecracker explosions and burning embers from the fireworks. But what about some of the more serious concerns, like improvised explosives, hazardous materials, and radiation sources that might be brought into the crowds.
How can safety and security personnel monitor outdoor crowds that reach those enormous numbers? We previously wrote about the steps taken by New York City to tighten its security for the New Year’s Eve holiday crowd. (Read Feeling Safer in Holiday Crowds.)
We guess that there will be similar plans in place for various cities around the United States that will be hosting spectacular fireworks displays. To detect any narcotics, explosives, or radiation within the crowds, some of these tools might be used:
- Handheld narcotics analyzers can be used to identify drugs in the field and protect officers from being harmed by carfentanyl, fentanyl and other synthetic opioids
- Police officers could be wearing personal radiation detectors that can detect and localize radiation sources generated by man-made devices such as nuclear weapons, improvised nuclear devices (INDs) or radiological dispersal devices (RDDs).
- The fire department can be equipped with personal dose rate meters, in order to provide first responders with quick, reliable gamma and dose rate measurements.
- Officers in plain clothes might be walking around with radiation detection backpacks that monitor the area to rapidly locate and detect gamma-emitting radioactive sources in large areas.
- Radiation detection equipment can be placed in fixed positions in key areas to identify radiation on location or from miles away.
- Chemical analyzers can identify a broad range of unknown chemicals and explosives in the field quickly, safely, and confidently using FTIR and Raman spectroscopy in a single instrument.
- Portable analyzers for explosives identification can be used by bomb squads and EOD teams to identify explosives and explosive precursors.
It’s scary to think that we need all this technology to help keep us safe during a family-friendly celebration, but it would be even more concerning without it.
Local Safety Tips
And for those who are not joining the massive crowds, but may be attending local, smaller celebrations, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission offers these tips to celebrate safely and help ensure watching fireworks is an enjoyable experience:
Tips to Celebrate Safely
- Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks, including sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit—hot enough to melt some metals.
- Make sure fireworks are legal in your area, and only purchase and set off fireworks that are labeled for consumer (not professional) use.
- Never use fireworks while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
- Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy, in case of fire or other mishap.
- Light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly.
- Never try to relight or handle malfunctioning fireworks. Soak them with water and throw them away.
- Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Move to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.
- Never point or throw fireworks (including sparklers) at anyone.
- After fireworks complete their burning, to prevent a trash fire, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding the device.
For more fireworks safety tips, visit www.cpsc.gov/fireworks.
Enjoy but respect these types of explosives as well; we want everyone to have a safe and Happy 4th of July.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2018 but has been updated with recent attendee data and CPSC tips added.
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