News-Record.com

Friday's No. 2 editorial.

July Fourth without fireworks would be like New Year’s Eve without the ball dropping in Times Square. An essential part of the celebration wouldn’t be there.

But what wouldn’t be missed are fireworks injuries. If this year is like last, some 9,000-plus Americans will be injured by fireworks, most this holiday weekend.

A good portion of these injuries could be prevented if parents better supervised their kids. Children between the ages of 10 and 14 are the ones most often injured by fireworks, with those under 20 sustaining about half of all such injuries.

North Carolina parents have it easier than their South Carolina counterparts, where more dangerous fireworks are sold. Our state bans the use and possession of devices that explode or travel. Still, it’s a given that devices from south of the border will be around town, and parents should watch for children being exposed to them.

Sparklers are the fallback choice of many parents, as they are looked at as a way to give children a safe thrill. But sparklers come with their own hazards. They burn at temperatures up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit and can do damage to fingers and exposed toes. They also can ignite clothing. They cause the largest percentage of fireworks injuries in children 14 and younger.

Safety groups recommend that children 5 and younger not use sparklers. Children who do use them need to be taught some common-sense rules: Don’t hold more than one sparkler at a time; don’t wave them or run with them; hold them away from the body and stand while using them.

State law wisely bans children under 16 from purchasing fireworks. Adults should supervise the use of fireworks by all who can’t legally buy them. Boys especially should be watched, as males suffer more than 75 percent of fireworks injuries.

A trip tonight to Grimsley High School to see the professional fireworks might be the best way to keep kids safe — and to divert attention from amateur pyrotechnics.