How To Stay Safe This 4th Of July In The Carolinas
Fireworks and sparklers are a fun way to celebrate our independence, but they can also be dangerous. Stay safe this July 4th by following these safety tips from USA Today.
Cookouts and fireworks are what many Carolina residents picture when thinking of July 4th. Millions of people across the US set off fireworks in their own backyards or on their streets for large groups to watch. Fireworks and sparklers are fun to watch, but there are a lot of safety measures that should be taken when handling them.
Fireworks and sparkler accidents can potentially be fatal and lead to thousands of hospital trips each year. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s 2022 Fireworks Annual Report, last year over 10,000 people were brought into emergency rooms from fireworks-related injuries. Tragically, 11 people died from these injuries.
Last year the highest number of July 4th injuries were from firecrackers, which caused 1,300 people to be hospitalized. Sparklers are also a leading cause of hospital visits on the 4th. There were 600 hospital reports from sparklers in 2022. These injuries weren’t even all caused on the 4th. Up to 73% of these firework-related injuries occurred in the weeks leading up to or after the Fourth of July.
How to safely light fireworks
Due to the popularity of setting off fireworks on the Fourth of July, many safety groups and government agencies have released their safety tips and practices for the holiday.
This is what is recommended by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to stay safe around fireworks:
- Never allow small children to play with or ignite fireworks, this includes sparklers.
- Always make sure the fireworks you buy and use are legal in your area.
- Make sure to keep a bucket of water or a garden hose nearby in case of fire or other mishap.
- Light fireworks one at a time. Once your firework is lit, move back quickly.
- Never try to pick up or re-light fireworks that haven’t ignited fully.
- Never use fireworks while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
Along with following state and local laws surrounding fireworks, here’s what the Department of Homeland Security recommends:
- Before discarding, soak both spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours.
- Never hold a firework in your hand when lighting or put any part of your body directly over a firework.
- Only light one firework at a time.
What about sparklers?
Sparklers are commonly used on the Fourth of July as a replacement or addition to fireworks, and it is common for them to be used around or by children. Sparklers become extremely hot then lit, between 1,800-3,000 degrees, and can cause some bad injuries.
The American Pyrotechnics Association recommends that you never light or hold more than one sparkler at a time. They also say you should keep them at an arm’s length away from the body at all times.
The association also recommends adults closely supervise any children under 12 using sparklers.
The National Safety Council recommends ditching sparklers altogether and using safer alternatives including glow sticks, confetti poppers, or colored streamers.
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