{"id":4598,"date":"2026-06-30T23:05:59","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T23:05:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=4598"},"modified":"2026-06-30T23:05:59","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T23:05:59","slug":"burn-survivor-speaks-at-cary-event-to-help-stop-firework-related-injuries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=4598","title":{"rendered":"Burn survivor speaks at Cary event to help stop firework-related injuries"},"content":{"rendered":"
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CARY, N.C. (WNCN) \u2014 The North Carolina State Fire Marshal kicked off the state\u2019s\u00a02026 4th of July Awareness Campaign\u00a0to prevent firework-related injuries and deaths on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

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The announcement was made during the \u201cSave-A-Life\u201d Recognition event at Cary Fire Station #9.<\/p>\n

Firefighters joined other first responders,\u00a0caregivers, volunteers and a burn survivor who shared her story to watch the debut of a fireworks documentary \u2014 a show-and-tell-all specifically\u00a0about the dangers of sparklers.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Burn survivor Ginger Peters knows that reality all too well.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was in the hospital for over two months,\u201d she told several dozen people at the event. She also said that she came close to dying more than once.<\/p>\n

Ginger\u2019s story is highlighted in the documentary after she suffered third-degree burns over nearly half her body, leading to months of treatment and a long road to recovery.<\/p>\n

A sparkler set her dress on fire at her birthday party this past September.<\/p>\n

\u201cI ended up on, having, third degree burns. Over 40% of my body, had over eight skin grafts,\u201d she added. \u201cI ended up on a what\u2019s called an Eskimo machine, which is the last form of life support that is available. Thankfully, you know, I had an amazing care team at the burns center who, you know, worked so hard to save me. And I am here today. Wow, what a blessing!\u201d<\/p>\n

Now,\u00a0she\u2019s turning her unimaginable pain into a message that could save someone else\u2019s life.<\/p>\n

She was literally given her flowers on Tuesday afternoon, as she joined others in celebrating America\u2019s\u00a0250th birthday while warning people\u00a0that one firework could spark more than just a show, especially right now during the ongoing drought in North Carolina.<\/p>\n

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\u201cAnd that\u2019s why we\u2019re here today,\u201d North Carolina\u2019s State Fire Marshal Brian Taylor said.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWe want to recognize the importance of safety during the 4th of July. And normally, we use fireworks and we want folks to celebrate with fireworks, but we want [people] to do that in a responsible and safe manner.\u201d<\/p>\n

Taylor\u2019s holiday message: \u201cLeave the fireworks to the (pyrotechnic) pros.\u201d<\/p>\n

He commended them\u00a0and congratulated first responders and caregivers from the UNC Jaycee Burn Unit who treated Ginger.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou didn\u2019t just save a patient,\u201d an emotional Ginger Peters said. \u201cYou saved Cayden and Cruz\u2019s mom; You saved Alan\u2019s wife. You saved a woman who had a lot more chaos to create and when my body couldn\u2019t fight you fought for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

An average of 192 North Carolinians are treated in emergency departments alone each year for fireworks-related injuries.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And burn survivor, Ginger Peters, has the scars \u2014 and now the purpose to remind her\u00a0of the dangers of sparklers and other fireworks \u2014 for the rest of her life.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\t\t\tBurn survivor speaks at Cary event on firework injury prevention<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n


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\u201cYou know, they\u2019re meant for, you know, for fun and for joy when we\u2019re celebrating, you know, independence or birthdays or weddings. But they are so dangerous,\u201d she warned. \u201cIn a split second, someone\u2019s life can be completely turned upside down.\u201d<\/p>\n

The State Fire Marshal reminds anyone thinking about buying aerial fireworks, the warning isn\u2019t just about safety\u2014it\u2019s also about the law under which violators can face hundreds of dollars in fines and up to 6 months in jail.<\/p>\n

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The Office of State Fire Marshal encourages residents to:<\/p>\n