Firecrackers to avoid

MANILA, Philippines—The law has always been clear about which firecrackers should be avoided for the dangers these pose to people, whether they’re users or mere bystanders.

Republic Act 7183, which regulates the sale, manufacture, distribution and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices, provides a list of regulated fireworks:

* Baby rocket—A firecracker with a stick so constructed that lighting of the wick will propel the whole thing to lift a few meters before exploding. The firecracker head is about 1-and-a-half inches in length by 3/8 inch in diameter while the stick is about a foot in length.

* Bawang—A firecracker larger than a “trianggulo” with 1/3 teaspoon of powder packed in cardboard [which is tied] with abaca strings and wrapped [to simulate] the shape of [a clove of] garlic.

* Small trianggulo—A [triangular-shaped] firecracker … with a powder content [that is] less than the [powder composition of] bawang and usually wrapped in brown paper measuring ¾ inch length on its longest side.

* Pull-string poppers —A firecracker consisting of a small tube about an inch in length and less than half of an inch in diameter with strings on each end. Pulling both strings will cause the firecracker to explode.

* Paper caps—Minute amount of black powder spread in either small strips of paper on a small sheet used for children’s toy guns.

* El Diablo—A firecracker tubular in shape [which is] about 1 ¼ inches in length and less than ¼ inch in diameter with a wick. It is also known as “labintador.”

* Judah’s Belt—A string of firecrackers consisting of either diablos or small trianggulos that can number up to a hundred … and culminating in large firecracker, usually a bawang.

* Skyrocket (kwitis)—A bigger version of a baby rocket [which is] designed to be propelled to a height of 40 to 50 feet before exploding.

The “watusi,” also known as “dancing fire” is listed among the regulated pyrotechnics. It was described by RA 7183 as “usually reddish in color about 1½ inches in length and 1/10 inch in width usually ignited by friction to produce a dancing movement and a crackling sound.”

Its chemical components, when ingested, could kill especially small children who have a tendency to put things in their mouths.

In 2010, the Department of Trade and Industry included the watusi on its list of prohibited pyrotechnics, which include the Piccolo, Goodbye Philippines, Atomic Big Triangulo, Super Lolo, Lolo Thunder, Pla-pla, Giant Judas Belts, the Giant Bawang, and the Atomic Bomb.

On the other hand, the government allows the sale of the following pyrotechnic devices:

* Sparklers—Pyrotechnic devices usually made of black powder on a piece of wire or inside a paper tube designed to light up and glow after igniting.

* Luces—Any of several kinds of sparklers.

*Fountain—A kind of [conically-shaped] sparkler … which is lighted on the ground and designed to provide various rising colors and intermittent lights upon being ignited.

* Jumbo regular and special—A kind of sparkler similar to a ‘fountain’ but bigger in size.

* Mabuhay—A dozen pieces of sparklers [bundled together].

* Roman candle—A sparkler similar to a ‘fountain’ but shaped like a big candle.

* Trompillo—A pyrotechnic device usually fastened at the center and designed to spin clockwise and then counter-clockwise [when ignited to display] various colored lights.

* Airwolf—A kind of sky rocket shaped like an airplane with a propeller to [enable it to] rise about 40 or 50 feet. It lights up while aloft.

* Whistle device—Any of the various kinds of firecrackers or pyrotechnic designed to either emit a loud, piercing whistle-like sound or explode after the device is ignited.

*Butterfly—Butterfly-shaped pyrotechnic device designed to lift above ground while providing light.

* Pailaw—All kinds of lighting devices.