Elizabeth Neuman/FOR THE SUMMER POST A fireworks display at Kroger, 919 E. State St., attracts customers' attention.

Across America, the Fourth of July can mean booming sales in the fireworks trade, and with it, an explosion of injuries and arrests.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, about 8,300 people were treated in hospital emergency rooms for fireworks-related injuries. Nearly half of those injuries were burns involving the hands, eyes and head. About 46 percent of the victims were younger than 15 years old.

"We've been very lucky," said Eileen Davis, nurse manager of the emergency room at O'Bleness Memorial Hospital. "Most of the injuries we have dealt with have been kids in their early teens who have been messing around with homemade firecrackers and end up with very minor burns on their hands."

For those eager rocket scientists out there, OU Assistant Chemistry Professor Dan Dolata has a section on his Web page (http:// main.chem.ohiou.edu/ ~dolata/ dolata.html)

dedicated to fireworks safety.

According to the site, its purpose is to promote safer and saner quality information about pyrotechnics on the Internet and to help those budding scientists experimenting with fireworks grow up to be ten-fingered scientists.

Dolata, who is a certified member of the Pyrotechnics Guild International, said, "Always have an adult present, never approach duds for at least 30 minutes after they are lit and always behave as if the fireworks can explode at any time."

If you aren't a scientific whiz and simply cannot control your pyrotechnic urges, the CPSC and the National Council on Fireworks Safety suggest you purchase fireworks from a reliable fireworks dealer, and store them in a cool, dry place. When you are ready to light them, do so one at a time, outdoors and with the supervision of an adult.

But forewarned is forearmed this Fourth of July. There are three types of fireworks in Ohio.

Trick and novelty fireworks, which include non-explosive items such as sparklers and smoke bombs, can be sold and used anywhere in Ohio.

Display fireworks, which include items such as aerial shells that are fired from mortars, can only be sold by a licensed manufacturer, wholesaler or distributor and only may be discharged by a licensed exhibitor in accordance with Ohio laws regarding exhibitions. Consumer fireworks, which include bottle rockets, roman candles and firecrackers, have similar sale rules, but those purchasing them must sign a form stating they will transport the fireworks outside the state of Ohio within 48 hours (72 hours for nonresidents of Ohio). These fireworks cannot legally be discharged in the state. With Ohio fireworks law, stiff penalties can be applied for the illegal possession or discharge of fireworks.

The Ohio Department of Commerce made some changes in the fireworks law in 1997 to ensure passage of safety measures for the sale and exhibition of fireworks. Some of the changes in the law require the installation of smoke evacuation systems for all new and existing facilities, regulation of the size of new sales establishments to 5000 square feet and to prohibit the storage and sale of fireworks outside of approved buildings.

"Mainly what we saw were noise ordinance problems," said Trish Fox, records clerk for the Athens County Sheriff's Office. "We've only had the types of fireworks that were a warning situation to cease and desist, and sometimes officers also confiscate the smaller stuff. There have not been any arrests."