Police say common sense key to a fun, safe holiday

The Fourth of July holiday this year is a three-day weekend and it probably isn’t part of anyone’s plan to start the celebration out in the emergency room and spend the remainder of it recovering.

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BY THE NUMBERS

Some random Fourth of July facts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

More than half of all fireworks injuries in the U.S. occur in the weeks leading up to and just after the Fourth of July;
Between June 18 and July 18, 2005, 26 percent of fireworks injuries were attributed to firecrackers, 17 percent to sparklers and 17 percent to rockets;
More than half the injuries to children under 5-year-old were associated with sparklers;
Children 14-years-old and younger account for 45 percent of all fireworks injuries;
Most injuries are associated with the hands, eyes, face, head and ears.

Adding to the usual dangers of alcohol, explosives, water, boats and cars will be the heat and dry weather the area has suffered through this summer.

Fireworks exploding in dry grass could quickly lead to a fire.

The result of a bad mix of any of the above could result in anything from a You Tube hit to serious injury or death.

The solution, according to a veteran Pee Dee law enforcement officer, is common sense.

“If you get injured 10 minutes into your Fourth of July celebration you’re going to spend the next six to eight hours in the emergency room,” Capt. Danny Watson, Darlington Police Department, said.

The basics of holiday safety remain constant from one year to the next as much as they do from one day to the next.

If you’re going to drink, don’t drive – a car or boat, Watson said.

“There’s a lot of things in the water you need to be aware of to make sure you don’t get hurt or the people you’re responsible for in the boat, who are entrusting you with their lives, don’t get hurt,” Watson said.

Drinking and swimming aren’t a good combination either, Watson said.

Alcohol can make people think they’re swimming up when, in fact, they’re swimming down, Watson said, adding, that is the recipe for drowning.

Responsible adult supervision is key to a safe Independence Day celebration, Watson said.

“Make sure any child under the age of 16 is well supervised,” he said.

Sparklers aren’t safe, they’re a safety concern – they burn at 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit.

“If a child running around with a sparkler in their hand has it fall into their face, it could be a life-altering injury,” Watson said.

The best place for sparklers, he said, was stuck into the ground.

Live firecrackers are always dangerous. Others, though, may be more so.

“Where most people get hurt are with dud firecrackers,” Watson said. “It’s like a gun, guns are always loaded regardless of whether there is anything in the chamber or not.”

Duds should be left where they fall and well soaked with water and left alone for at least 20 minutes, Watson said.

Watson also stressed the need to deal with reputable stands and stores and not folks selling out of the trunks of their cars or homes.

Regulated fireworks will come with a certificate displayed on it that lists the origin and certifying agency of the package.

Watson also stressed that setting off fireworks is against the law in most municipalities.

“Houses are so close together, the potential for disaster is just so huge you can’t take the chance. You don’t want to burn someone’s house down to celebrate your holiday,” he said.