NC woman badly burned by sparklers now urges fireworks safety as Fourth of July approaches

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- The countdown is on to the Fourth of July holiday. For many people that celebration includes a fireworks show, such as the one at Dix Park.

Others like to set off their own fireworks at home.

If that's you, local fire officials warn that at-home celebrations can put you at a greater risk of injury.

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It comes as a new documentary shows the moments first responders jump into action to save a woman severely burned using sparklers last year.

Ginger Peters had burns across 40% of her body and spent months in a coma at the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center.

On Tuesday, she was honored by the state fire marshal. Peters is now warning families to be careful using sparklers.

"Going into the Fourth of July, having a plan for your family and for your children, you would never just hand your child a piece of wood that's just on fire, right? Because our job is to protect our children," Peters said. "We do that every year; we hand them the sparklers. So, have a plan around your family, have something and say our family doesn't partake in those or we do glow sticks"

State officials told ABC11 that North Carolina averages about 192 injuries annually related to fireworks with more than 70% of those occurring in July.