A Town In Italy Made A Law That All Fireworks Have To Be Quiet Graphic © todaysfunfact.com. Background photo: Pixabay (PD)
Fireworks are a spectacle, streaking across the sky before bursting into a light show. But the loud booms and bangs accompanying the colorful display can be startling.
Now imagine having no idea of what fireworks are. Suddenly you see the sky light up, followed by violent explosive sounds that ripple through your chest. It can be a nerve-wracking experience, right? This is the experience of most dogs, animals and small children.
But one Italian town has a rather unconventional but not so novel solution: silent fireworks.
The Issue With Traditional Fireworks
A firework display is a common event during celebratory events. But for animals and sections of the population, the loud noises from fireworks can be an upsetting source of anxiety, fear, and harm. Here’s how:
• Dogs have highly sensitive ears, and noise from fireworks can startle them, creating a need to flee. According to Pet Amber Alert, the highest number of missing dogs and pets in the US is reported right around July 4th, as most people revel in firework displays.
• The sudden booms of exploding fireworks can raise anxiety or trigger danger responses in people living with PTSD.
• The unpredictable noises can overwhelm people on the autism spectrum.
• In one case reported by the New York Times, thousands of red-winged blackbirds dropped dead in Arkansas following a New Year’s Eve fireworks celebration—showing the danger posed to wild animals.
What Are Silent Fireworks?
Out of respect for our furry friends, wild animals, children, and adults, the town of Collecchio in Parma, Italy, has banned the use of loud fireworks.
Anyone itching to launch fireworks in this little town must settle for “silent” alternatives that blaze across the sky in the same (or more lively) cascading spectrum, but without the whizzing explosions and troubling bangs.
While this is a first from a legislation standpoint, ‘silent’ fireworks have been around for a while. They’re often used in traditional firework displays to add some visual bedazzle.
It should be noted that ‘silent’ is used loosely. It’s not absolute silence but a significant reduction in the noise level.
The so-called ‘silent fireworks’ will still make noise. Just more manageable for animals, children, and even adults than typical commercial fireworks that can hit noise levels as high as 170 decibels.
Should we rethink our firework celebrations?