Experts warn of illegal rockets and firecrackers
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Shortly before the turn of the year, experts from the Kuratorium für Verkehrssicherheit (KFV) warned of illegal fireworks products. The experts emphasize that items that do not meet internal testing standards are particularly dangerous. Anyone who uses non-approved pyrotechnics risks serious injuries.
Those who buy fireworks in Austria usually do it themselves. However, almost half of the buyers do not know which country rockets or firecrackers come from. This is shown by a representative survey by the Road Safety Board of Trustees.
KFV warns of processing defects
Around a fifth of them are not sure whether they are even allowed to buy items in Austria. Three percent of sales said they also buy their fireworks abroad, mainly because they are cheaper there. Some also hope for more effect, although these supposed advantages can also turn into the opposite. Because of possible processing defects, fireworks bought abroad would pose an incalculable risk, warns the head of property protection at KFV, Armin Kaltenegger.
Observe the CE mark and instructions for use
Despite these risk factors, every twentieth person in the survey stated that they had made fireworks themselves or had helped others with them. Almost one in three of them said they had no knowledge of the various classes of fireworks and there were regulations governing their use.
Therefore, accidents with serious injuries are no wonder, so the experts at the KFV. They make a strong appeal to only buy certified missiles and firecrackers. These can be recognized, among other things, by the CE mark, an approval number and in a German instruction manual on the article.