Know the laws before lighting off the Fourth

In preparation for the upcoming Fourth of July holiday, we thought it would be a good time to review the laws and suggested safety measures regarding fireworks on Daniel Island. Before we do that, we found it interesting that fireworks were first used in seventh century China. They were used for ceremonial and defensive purposes.  

 

As an initial matter, it is important to note that City of Charleston Ordinance 13-191 prohibits the use, discharge, sale and possession of fireworks within the city limits, which includes Daniel Island. Thus, to be clear, this article is not a suggestion to break the law or otherwise take any illegal action. Instead, we offer the following as consideration as you enjoy the holiday (this is our lawyer plausible deniability statement).

 

Various groups and governmental entities around the country publish information regarding firework-related statistics. For example, per the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, 18 people died from non-occupational fireworks incidents in the U.S. in 2020 compared to 12 in 2019. Approximately 15,600 people sought emergency medical treatment due to fireworks, with 30% resulting in injuries to hands/fingers and 37% to the head, face and/or eyes. Ouch!

 

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission also publishes additional safety tips including:

 

● Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.

 

● Avoid buying fireworks that are packaged in brown paper because this is often a sign the fireworks were made for professional displays and they could pose a danger to consumers.

 

● Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities. 

 

● Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse.

 

● Back up to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.

 

● Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully.

 

● Never point or throw fireworks at another person.

 

● Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.

 

● Light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly.

 

● Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.

 

● After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding it to prevent a trash fire.

 

Last, but certainly not least, sparklers! Good news – sparklers are legal in the City of Charleston and on Daniel Island. With that said, sparklers can be especially dangerous because they are often handled by small children who don’t quite yet maintain the level of

awareness as parents.  The most dangerous aspect of sparklers is the heat produced, nearly 2,000 degrees! Therefore, sparklers can quickly ignite clothing, and children have received severe burns from dropping sparklers on their feet. According to the National Fire Protection Association, sparklers alone account for more than 25% of emergency room visits for fireworks injuries. For children under 5 years of age, sparklers accounted for nearly half of the total estimated injuries.

 

In closing, please have a fun and safe holiday!