Did you know that Americans spend hundreds of millions of dollars annually on consumer fireworks? Along with the entertainment fireworks bring, they also cause more than 9,000 injuries every year. With the Fourth of July holiday approaching, the American Academy of Ophthalmology is reminding the public that fireworks are not toys. Fireworks are incendiary explosives that can cause devastating eye injuries.
Fortunately, there are some steps you can take in order to keep your eyes safe when enjoying the use of fireworks to celebrate a holiday or special occasion.
More eye injuries occur during the one-month period surrounding the Fourth of July than any other time of the year. Although hands and fingers are most at risk, eye related incidents account for 19% of all injuries according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. A corneal abrasion is the most common eye injury when it comes to fireworks. More serious injuries, however, also occur regularly. These injuries include hemorrhages within the eye, perforation of the eye, extensive burns, and even detachment of the retina.
The best way to keep your eyes safe around fireworks is to attend a professionally organized firework display where you will not be handing the explosives yourself. Leave the show in the sky up to the professionals.
If you must handle fireworks at home, engage in a safety training beforehand. Before you start setting fireworks off, make sure all those involved have been instructed on a safety plan; which includes maintaining a safe distance from where the explosives are being ignited.
When purchasing fireworks, pay close attention to the packaging. Avoid fireworks in brown paper. Brown paper packaging could mean they were designed for professional use and pose a greater threat for recreational use. When lighting the fuse on a firework, avoid placing any part of your body over the firework. Never try to relight a fuse that did not ignite on the first try.
Do not point or throw a firework at another person. Everyone standing within at least 20 feet of the firework device should wear eye protection of some sort. Goggles or other professional safety eyewear can keep sparks or malfunctioning fireworks from causing injury to your eyes.
While it is an expectation for people to have fun as they celebrate with friends and family, proper safety protocols should also be followed in order to avoid an unnecessary trip to the eye doctor. For information on avoiding eye injuries over holidays that include the use of fireworks, call Palmetto Eye & Laser Center at 864-583-6381 or visit our website to learn more.
