Protect your eyes when enjoying fireworks

Remember to keep your eyes safe this Fourth of July.

Did you know that over 10,000 people are treated in the emergency room each year due to fireworks?

Did you know that over 20% of these injuries are eye-related?

How do eye injuries happen with fireworks?

The bulk of fireworks injuries actually occur to innocent bystanders. So it is important to always remain alert to your surroundings.

The number one culprit for injuries are bottle rockets. Surprisingly, sparklers rank a close number two. Sparklers are often given to children because they are thought to be “safe” but a Rossen Report showed that sparklers actually burn at the same temperature as a blow torch! Therefore, it is important to always supervise children while they play with fireworks.

How serious can eye injuries be?

One in six firework injuries to the eye will cause permanent vision loss or blindness. That is a serious statistic! In some cases, the injury is so severe that the entire eye must be removed.

What can be done to stay safe?

Attend a public fireworks display, instead of being near those who are shooting them off.

But if you do choose to light fireworks yourself, always be aware of your surrounding and wear protective safety eyewear.

And remember to never let young children handle fireworks by themselves.

 

Top image by Pexels (location) used under Creative Commons Zero (CCO) License. Image has been cropped and modified from original. Image rights state commercial use and modifications allowed when image was obtained on 07/02/2018.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.