July is Fireworks Eye Safety Month - Pepose Vision Institute

July is Fireworks Eye Safety Month

Posted by: Pepose Vision Institute in Eye Care on July 1, 2019

Have a great 4th of July but please be safe.

Fireworks and Eye Safety: What You Need to Know

Fireworks injuries cause more than 10,000 visits to the emergency room each year, according to data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. As you make plans for your Fourth of July celebrations, we join the American Academy of Ophthalmology in shining a light on fireworks safety.

To help prevent injuries, here are four myths about consumer fireworks risk:

Small doesn’t equal safe. A common culprit of fireworks injuries is the kind often handed to small children — the classic sparkler. Many people mistakenly believe sparklers are harmless due to their size. However, they can reach temperatures of up to 2,000 degrees — hot enough to melt certain metals. Even tiny poppers or snappers can pose dangers.

Even though it looks like a dud, it may not act like one. Injury and serious eye trauma can occur when people mistakenly think that a firework is no longer active or hot. Never touch unexploded fireworks and contact the local fire or police department to properly handle it.

Just because you’re not lighting or throwing it doesn’t mean you’re out of the firing line. An international study of fireworks-related eye injuries showed that nearly half of the people injured by fireworks are bystanders. The research also found that one in six of these injuries caused severe vision loss. Two of the most common culprits of firework related injuries are mortar-type fireworks and bottle rockets, which are thrown before they explode and can strike an innocent bystander.

The holiday can be complete without using consumer fireworks. Although consumer-grade fireworks are available, they are extremely dangerous and can cause devastating ocular injuries and even blindness.

Safety tips

  • Never let children play with any type of firework, including sparklers.
  • People who handle fireworks and all bystanders should wear proper protective eyewear
  • When viewing a professional firework display, view fireworks from at least 500 feet away and respect all safety barriers.

If you experience a fireworks-related eye injury:

  • Seek medical attention immediately.
  • Avoid rubbing or rinsing the eyes or applying pressure.
  • Do not remove any object from the eye, apply ointments or take any pain. medication before seeking medical help.

In the event of a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.


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