Bye-bye fireworks? The drones are here
They’re mesmerizing, a little magical and … pretty dangerous. That’s why a handful of cities are going high-tech this year, replacing their Fourth of July fireworks with drone shows.
Look to the sky
In California, Lake Tahoe, La Jolla and Ocean Beach are going the drone route this year. The same goes for Salt Lake City, Utah, and Boulder, Colorado. That is not surprising, given how dry those states are. Utah is one of the states most prone to wildfires, with 800 to 1,000 yearly.
It’s not just fire
In 2022, about 10,200 people went to the ER with fireworks-related injuries; 11 died. So sad.
- 38% of injuries were burns, and 29% of those were to the hands and fingers. Legs and the head/face/ears accounted for another 19% each.
Then there’s the matter of where fireworks come from
Surprise, surprise: The vast majority of bottle rockets, Roman candles, firecrackers, sparklers and all the rest come from China. In 2020, Americans spent $370 million on Chinese fireworks. The next biggest source? Spain, which we spent a collective $3.61 million on.
With drones, there are no huge booms! No debris or smoke to deal with, either.
Once you get past the tradition of it all, drone shows make a lot of sense. Have you ever seen one in person? They’re beautiful, too!
Fitbits recalled after reports of third-degree burns
Burning calories is a key to losing weight and staying in shape. However, you should never feel an actual burn when working out. Unfortunately, that is what some Fitbit owners have had to deal with recently.
It wasn’t because they hit the gym too hard or that Fitbit built personal motivators into its smartwatches. But an issue with some batteries led to injuries and a subsequent recall of thousands of gadgets.
Warning: Charging powerbanks sold at Amazon, Best Buy and Target recalled for fire risk
Power banks are handy, whether around the house or on a camping trip. Most are incredibly small and fit into a bag easily. When you aren’t close to a power socket or car charger, a powerbank can be a lifesaver. Tap or click here to see a power bank that can charge three devices simultaneously.
Warning: A frightening new reason to stay away from weight loss drugs sold online
When a dangerous or defective product is put on the market, a recall is usually issued to remove it. This can be done voluntarily by the manufacturer or seller, or it can be mandated by a government agency such as the FDA, CPSC and FSIS.
Recall alert: 350K video doorbells are a potential fire hazard
Ring video doorbells are the latest gadget to be recalled for fire safety. In a notice filed with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, users are warned that incorrectly installing the doorbell can lead to overheating and burns.