Statistically, July 4th will be the the last day that someone out there has all 10 fingers of their fingers. Don't let that person be you or someone you love. 

Every year, U.S. emergency rooms fill up around the 4th of July with people who thought it would be fun to shoot off fireworks at home or wave sparklers as part of their celebration. Patients are brought in with blown-off fingers, shattered bones, serious burns and other permanent injuries. In 2024, there were 11 reported fireworks-related deaths and 14,700 people injured by fireworks, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. 

There are some great professional fireworks shows being offered this weekend, including:

• July 4 at 9:30 p.m. at Morgan Park in the City of Georgetown. Watch from the Harborwalk or East Bay Park
• July 4 at 10 p.m. at the Murrells Inlet MarshWalk. Watch from the MarshWalk or Morse Park Landing. 
• There will also be a laser light display on Sunday, July 6 after the Wave That Flag Event at Retreat Park. Read more at https://www.gtcounty.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=582. 

Our local Fire/EMS teams recommend leaving the fireworks to the professionals. If you absolutely insist on doing fireworks yourself here are some tips from Georgetown County Emergency Services:  

• Only use fireworks in a safe, open area away from homes, dry grass, and flammables 
• Never allow children to handle fireworks, not even "just sparklers"
• Keep a bucket of water or a hose close by 
• Light one at a time and move away quickly 
• Never relight a "dud" — wait 20 minutes, then soak it in water 
• Completely soak used fireworks before disposal 

Don’t let a celebration turn into a tragedy. Here's to a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July for all!