South Carolina Fireworks

Celebrate safely

You may not have bought the watermelon or cleaned the grill, but it’s never too early to read up on and pay attention to safety during the period between June 20 and July 20 — the most popular season for fireworks.

Along with permanent sites, mobile fireworks stands are popping up like summer flowers — or dandelions, some might say.

That’s the view of folks who aren’t fans of either the noise or the potential fire hazard when amateurs try their hand at fireworks on the homefront.

(If you’ve ever kept the garden hose handy for stray rockets on the roof, you’ll know just what we’re talking about.)

The National Council on Fireworks Safety says that while fireworks on the Fourth are as common as cookouts to celebrate our country’s independence, common sense requires that:

- Parents or other adults should supervise teens using fireworks.

- Young children should not be allowed to handle or use fireworks. That includes sparklers.

- Fireworks should only be used outdoors.

- A water source should be nearby.

- Users should read caution labels on fireworks before lighting.

- Users should wear safety glasses.

- A “dud” firework should never be re-lit. Wait 20 minutes then soak it in a bucket of water.

- Spent fireworks should be soaked in water before being placed in an outdoor garbage can.

The U. S. Consumer Products Safety Commission agrees with all of the above and adds that fireworks should never be lit in a container and that users should always check and obey local laws.

Legal consumer fireworks that comply with regulations can be relatively safe. But all fireworks are hazardous and can cause injuries. CPSC estimates that last year, about 8,600 people were treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries associated with fireworks. More than half of the injuries were burns and most involved the head (including face, eyes and ears), hands, fingers and legs. Children and young adults under the age of 20 accounted for more than half of the injuries. More than 4 of every 10 injuries were to children under 15. And most of those injured, both children and adults, were male.

While bystanders can be injured, it’s more common for people actively participating to be injured severely.

There are legal issues to contend with as well.

According to the South Carolina Board of Pyrotechnic Safety, a division of the state fire marshal’s office, no one under the age of 16 can buy fireworks. Some fireworks, including M-80s and cherry bombs, are illegal nationwide, prohibited by a 1966 federal law. Firecrackers sold to the public can only have 50 milligrams or less of pyrotechnic composition per firecracker.

Fireworks – Freedom Weekend Aloft – FREE MONDAY – Greenville South ...

Freedom Weekend Aloft will finish with FREE Admission, a big birthday cake & a fireworks finale.

Bi-Lo will be celebrating their 50th Birthday on the last day of Freedom Weekend Aloft.  Memorial Day will be Bi-Lo Day which will offer FREE ADMISSION to all attending this fabulous event.

To celebrate their 50th Birthday Bi-Lo will be baking what may become the largest Birthday Cake South Carolina has ever seen.  The cake is rumored to be 16 x 24 and large enough to share with everyone.

To complete the Birthday Party and close out a fun filled weekend an outlandish fireworks display will begin at 9:00 pm.

Acts of the General Assembly of South-Carolina

Code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, annotated, containing permanent public statutes of general application to the end of the 1975 Legislative session : prepared under the supervision of the Legislative Council and Code Commissioner and adopted as the official code of the State by the 1977 session of the General Assembly

The Insurance year book, Fire and marine

Code of Federal Regulations, Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters, Pt. 1-124, Revised as of July 1, 2010

Waiting for the fireworks, selected stories