MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — Fireworks are a very popular way to celebrate Independence Day and the No. 1 cause of injuries around the holiday.
According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, 66% of injuries occurred in the weeks before and after the July 4 holiday.
Safety experts caution that if you plan to light your own fireworks it’s important to make sure they are legal in the area before buying or using them.
Once you decide to light them, you should do so one at a time and then move back quickly.
Aaron Worthley, a nurse at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center, said you can get burned very badly by fireworks if you are not lighting them the correct way.
“Fireworks can cause severe burns that can lead into third-degree burns going full thickness through every layer of the skin,” Worthley said. “It’s going to be very painful and also comes with greater risks after the burns.”
Here are some safety tips to keep in mind: Read the directions on fireworks before lighting them; never allow small children to play with or ignite fireworks or sparklers; keep a bucket of water handy; and never use fireworks while intoxicated.
Even sparklers can burn upwards of up to 2,000 degrees, which is enough to melt some metals, and Worthley said the hospital will see patients with injuries over the holiday weekend.
“Not with just the burns but also some of the different explosive devices,” Worthley said. “You’ll have orthopedic injuries as well. I also want to remind people not to hold lit fireworks in your hands. Light them, get rid of them, do not hold them in your hand.”
According to the safety commission, 35% of fireworks injuries are to hands and feet, while 22% are to the head, face, and ears.
If there is a burn to the hand or joints, you should get it checked by a doctor, Worthley said.
“Anything that goes through layers of the skin causes really large blisters you will want to get checked out, and if you’re in a lot of pain, you’ll definitely want to get it checked out,” Worthley said.
* * *
Hannah Huffstickler is a multimedia journalist at News13. She joined the News13 team in January 2024 after graduating from Coastal Carolina University in December of 2023. Keep up with Hannah on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram. You can also read more of her work here.
