Public officials provide fireworks safety advice ahead of July 4

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) — Some 9,700 fireworks-related emergency room visits were recorded in 2023, making the Fourth of July a dangerous time for anyone using recreational fireworks.

Kanawha County Emergency Management and the Ambulance Authority said the use of fireworks is not recommended by their agencies.

Mike Oakley said that if you decide to do it, holding them in your hands can be risky.

“We all shot each other with Roman candles. Bad idea, you know, when you hit people, you hit things, things catch fire, you hit people in the face.”

South Charleston Fire Chief Virgil White said if you light a firework and it doesn’t go out, you should move away.

“Just in case there’s a delay and the ones that don’t go off, you have to soak them in something like a bucket of water to make sure they’re properly disposed of,” White said.

Oakley also said there are outside influences that create even more danger.

“Alcohol slows down your reaction time, slows down your thinking process and can cause you to get hurt that you might not have had,” he said.

Oakley lit a sparkler last year on a piece of plywood to demonstrate how quickly something considered safe for children can cause serious problems.

“This product can burn, as we said, at 2,000 degrees, and it can cause serious burns in young children.”

Once the spark had died down, the extent of the damage could be seen.

“Imagine it’s your skin or a child’s skin, or the child throws it away and it sticks to someone’s skin and burns them.”

Kanawha County Emergency Management advises you to check your area for fireworks safety ordinances.