From the moment you tell your friends or begin showing signs of that cute baby bump, the congratulations will surely be followed up by “is it a boy or girl?” For an increasing number of parents, gender reveal parties are quickly becoming an extravagant new way to share the big news with family and friends. Gender reveal parties are no longer a simple cake cutting or balloon release.  People are said to have wrestled alligators, jumped out of airplanes and shooting tannerite to create a colored powder explosion.

Tannerite Concerns

While Tannerite is technically legal, it can also be dangerous. According to the many news sources, a U.S. Border Patrol agent, was off duty and celebrating his wife’s pregnancy when he unintentionally sparked a wildfire in southern Arizona. With his wife alongside him, he innocently shot the target full of colored tannerite, that was supposed to reveal the gender of his soon to be child. But rather than creating a small blast of colored powder, the target erupted and sparked a fire that consumed more than 47,000 acres of land, resulted in more than $8 million in damages to the Coronado National Forest, and required over 800 firefighters to contain the fire. Thankfully, no injuries were reported from the fire.

Keeping a Fire Extinguisher Nearby

If you plan on having a gender reveal party with Tannerite (or shooting in general with the substance) be sure you have a Fire Extinguisher. Tannerite is made of approximately 80% Aluminum powder and Aluminum powder and 20% Inert/non-hazardous materials. A Type D fire extinguisher can be used to out fires from tannerite explosion and help keep the people around you safe.

MIJA Industries Cares

When we saw the story mentioned above, we felt it was our obligation to bring light to this subject and safety concerns. If you are considering the use of Tannerite, please keep a Type D fire extinguisher nearby.