COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) -
Last year, 65% of fireworks injuries happened in the 30 days surrounding the 4th of July. More than half of the injuries were the unexpected ignition of fireworks.
Last year four people were killed and more than 9,000 people were injured in fireworks-related incidents, which is why this 4th of July, as you spark up, you need to be safe.
The injuries can occur in the blink of an eye.
What seems like innocent summer fun can leave permanent scars. Columbia-Richland Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins sees the aftermath every year.
"All those little sparks that come off these fireworks will hit you in the eyes," said Jenkins. "It can get in your mouth. It can get up your nose so you know, you just have to be real careful when shooting off fireworks."
Jenkins hopes the image resonates as those across the midlands spark their own fun. At Casey's fireworks, remote detonators and one light boxes make the occasion a bit safer.
"It's like a one fuse show box, said John Casey. "And you just light the one fuse and you have the show within itself and they're really safe and big."
On their Pyro Safety Kit list, a bucket of sand for sparklers, a bucket of water, fire extinguisher, and flat firing boards for bottle rockets and others.
"If this was the artillery, you want to put something on both sides of the artillery as well as you can screw them to wood, would be another safe way to do that," said Casey.
Nearly half of all fireworks injuries are to the hands and fingers, followed by the head, face, ears, and eyes. More than half of injuries are burns, because sparklers can burn 2,000 degrees.
"They like to tease one another with then and their clothes can catch on fire," said Chief Jenkins. "They throw them at each other and you can see what happens."
In seconds the flames intensify.
"If you don't have any water handy, something to put this person out," said Jenkins. "By the time you call the fire department, by the time you call EMS, this person is already burning.
The same thing can happen with roman candles.
"They like to play games with it," said Jenkins, "And they like to play war with it and shoot it at one another.
Bottle rockets are illegal in South Carolina because when they go up in the air they can wreak havoc for the fire department. When they come down they're still burning and they can cause a fire.
Jenkins also reminds parents to supervise children with fireworks no matter what their age. He says your best bet is to leave it to the professionals.
Old Navy on Harbison Blvd. provided the mannequin for the fireworks demonstration and Casey Fireworks World provided the fireworks.
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A sparkler burns at 2,000 degrees
