Ponce Law has had several cases where people were burned with fireworks. So we asked our friend, Fire Chief Ken Reeves to give advice on how to avoid fire related accidents this summer.

There is literally no safe way for kids or teenagers to use fireworks on their own and be certain of keeping their eyes, all their fingers, or their hearing.

Growing up, Chief Reeves had unsupervised access to fireworks. Through many close calls he was lucky to have escaped without permanent damage, so he understands why parents who might have grown up the same way might think that letting their kids have unsupervised fireworks would be okay. 

Working in emergency response for 34 years, Reeves has seen lives changed horrifically from the casual use of fireworks over and over again. “In my career, I’ve seen dozens of houses burned to the ground by bottle rockets and roman candles that land on house roofs and slide down to dry leaves in the gutter”. The fire in the gutter goes immediately to that attic and it is very difficult to save the roof once that starts. This time of year, there are tons of dry materials all around our houses that are easy to ignite and can even smolder and ignite much later after you have left the area. 

People don’t usually consider that when they throw fireworks on the ground, any rock or pebble can become a projectile from the explosion. Pieces of the cardboard firework cylinder can similarly become a projectile and hundreds of people lose eyes to fireworks every year. Another common occurrence is accidentally lighting the fuse higher up instead of at the end, so the time from ignition to explosion can seem instantaneous and occur right in your face or in your hand instead of far away.

Chief Reeves advises seeking out professional fireworks displays where great care is taken to ensure safety and consider spending your money on water balloons and water guns instead.

Goodlettsville Four Mile Classic Was a Big Success!

$14,400 was raised to benefit Leadership Goodlettsville and Walking with Swager. If you want to find out more about Walking With Swager, click below.

Race Director, Kim Ponce, has agreed to direct the race next year as well.

The Goodlettsville Four Mile Classic is a certified four mile charity race held annually in Moss Wright Park in Goodlettsville.

Burn injuries can result from a variety of causes, including thermal sources like flames or hot liquids, chemical exposures, electrical currents, and radiation. According to the American Burn Association, over 450,000 burn injuries in the United States require medical treatment annually, with a significant number necessitating hospitalization. 

Burns are classified into degrees: first-degree burns affect the outer layer of the skin; second-degree burns reach the underlying layers and can result in blisters and severe pain; third-degree burns penetrate deeper tissues. 

Immediate first aid, such as cooling the burn with running water and covering it with a sterile cloth, is critical. For severe burns, prompt medical attention is vital to prevent complications like infections and to promote healing. Understanding these facts can help individuals respond effectively to burn injuries and seek appropriate care.

If you have been severely burned and need assistance  with temporary housing, compression garments, food, clothing, or other essential items during your recovery process, please contact Scars Uncovered nonprofit—they are ready and eager to assist you. You can visit their website by clicking on the link below or or you can email them at info@scarsuncovered.org.

This information was provided by our friends at Scars Uncovered. We appreciate all they do.

Michael Ponce and Friends

Michael Ponce and friends played live music at Plaza Mexican Grill in Goodlettsville on Saturday July 15th to raise money and awareness for the Sumner Spay and Neuter Alliance. This nonprofit provides low cost and sometimes free spay and neutering for dogs and cats to reduce the amount of unwanted pets euthanized each year. This single night event raised $2,200 for the organization. If you would like more information or to donate click on the button below.