Use common sense, courtesy this July 4th

In 2015, I wrote a column that started with the story of a man in Maine who died while celebrating the Fourth of July. That man and his friends were celebrating with drinks and fireworks, when he apparently had the idea to set one off from his head.

I asked readers in that column, “At what point did this sound like a good idea?”

In 2017, Newsweek literally compiled a list of stories of people being injured, both critically and not, or killed because of accidents that occurred while playing with fireworks.

I just want to share a snippet of the stories I found in this compilation list.

“A man in Chicago was killed... after being struck in the head by a firework designed to shoot 40-50 feet in the air,” Newsweek stated. “The man lit the firework, waited for it to ignite and, when it didn’t, bent his head over the tube. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.”

In another story from Michigan, “a man was injured ‘by exploding fireworks that lodged glass and other debris into his neck, arm and upper torso.’ He had been drinking alcohol at the time of the accident.”

And in Anaheim, Calif., “A residential building caught on fire... Authorities blamed illegal fireworks.”

Guys and gals, please don’t be stupid with fireworks this year. I don’t want to rain on anyone’s fun parade with fire and bright colors in the sky, but if you aren’t careful when setting up and lighting those buggers, you’re asking for trouble.

In my 2015 column, I reminisced about being a kid and wanting to light fireworks like my father did. I talked about being a clumsy kid and being allowed very few opportunities to get close to the things with fire.

To this day, I try to avoid lighting fireworks because my clumsiness and my penchant to have things go as wrong as possible has not changed.

As I said before, I do not particularly care for fireworks, and I know that I am probably one of the strange few. I just do not like the idea that something could go boom, and my hand go up in flames. I actually quite like my hands.

I have no problem with others lighting up fireworks and enjoying the show, though. If you enjoy it, you do it. I’m not trying to stop you.

Just make good decisions with your life, and do not let the decision to light a firework be the result of too many drinks.

While you’re making good decisions with your life this Fourth of July and the following weekend, think about who lives around you as well.

This is a community of veterans and soldiers, of elderly and young and of many, many pets. Think about who might be affected by sudden, loud noises and everything else that comes with a fireworks show.

Since I’m thinking about it, I have had neighbors in the past who just set off fireworks on the sidewalks outside my apartment, and I’m sure some of you have neighbors in the city who are the same way.

As a reminder, you actually can’t set off fireworks in the city limits of Enterprise. If you don’t know the ordinance, you can find it on the city’s website.

According to Municipal Code Sec. 10-3. - Fireworks discharge and sales prohibited; exceptions, “(a) The discharge, firing or use of firecrackers, rockets, torpedoes, Roman candles, or other fireworks or substances designed and intended for pyrotechnic display, and of pistols, canes, cannons or other appliances, using blank cartridges or caps containing chlorate of potash mixture, is hereby prohibited within the city limits of Enterprise, Alabama; provided, the governing body may authorize the public display of fireworks by properly qualified individuals; provided also, such display shall be of such a character and so located, discharged or fired as, in the opinion of the chief of the fire department, shall not be hazardous to surrounding property or endanger any person. (b) It shall be illegal to sell fireworks within the city limits of Enterprise, Alabama.”

Have your fun this Fourth of July; just have a little common sense and courtesy when you do so.

Cassie Gibbs is a staff writer for The Southeast Sun and Daleville Sun-Courier. The opinions of this writer are her own and not the opinion of the paper. She can be reached at (334) 393-2969 or by email at [email protected].