Fireworks Safety: How to Keep Your Eyes Safe This 4th of July

​Fireworks are a beautiful display of celebration and a glorious 4th of July tradition. What would Independence Day be without them? We want you to have the best holiday, and that means keeping your eyes and your loved ones’ eyes safe!
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Sadly, fireworks, while beautiful and spectacular, injure and cause eye injuries to thousands of Americans, including many children, each year. 
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Playing with or setting off fireworks can cause serious eye injuries and even lead to blindness. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), “In the most severe cases, fireworks can rupture the globe of the eye, cause chemical and thermal burns, corneal abrasions and retinal detachment – all of which can permanently cause eye damage and affect vision.”
 
It's important to remember that victims of fireworks injuries are not necessarily handling fireworks themselves. According to an international study sited by AAO, “Nearly half of people injured by fireworks are bystanders.” That same report states that 35 percent of fireworks injury victims are age 15 and younger.
 
These statistics highlight the importance of paying attention to fireworks safety over the 4th of July holiday. So how do you protect your eyes and the eyes of your loved ones? 

Fireworks Safety Tips

We, along with the AAO, advise attending professional public fireworks displays, rather than purchasing fireworks for use at home. If you choose to attend a public fireworks show or you live in a community nearby a fireworks show, here are a few important tips to follow:

1. Obey all safety barriers, and make sure children know to stay behind them as well. These are there for safety and protection.
2. Watch the fireworks from a safe distance. The AAO recommends viewing fireworks from at least 500 feet away.
3. Do not touch unexploded fireworks under any circumstances. They could still explode. Instead, notify your local fire or police department immediately and leave it to them to handle safely.

For those who do purchase consumer fireworks for personal use, we, along with AAO, recommend the following:

1. Do not let children play with fireworks of any kind, including sparklers and bottle rockets. According to PreventBlindness.org, “Sparklers burn at 1,800 degrees Farenheit, and bottle rockets can stray off course or throw shrapnel when they explode.”
2. Wear eye protection. Anyone handling fireworks should wear protective eyewear at all times. Protective eyewear should meet American National Standards Institute standards. All bystanders should also wear eye protection and stand back a safe distance.
3. Do not light professional-grade fireworks unless you are a trained pyrotechnician. 

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What to Do If a Fireworks Eye Injury Occurs?

Should an eye injury occur from fireworks this 4th of July or anytime during the year, please follow these guidelines:

• Get immediate medical attention.
• Do not touch or rub your eyes - or allow your child to touch or rub his or her eyes.
• Do not rinse your eyes or your child's.
• Do not apply pressure to your eye or your child's.
• Do not remove any objects stuck in your eye or your child's.
• Do not apply or administer any ointments or take any blood-thinning pain medications, such as aspirin and ibuprofen.

 
If a child suffers an eye injury, place a paper cup or similar protective patch that will not apply pressure to the eye over his or her eye and tape in place to prevent the child from touching the injured eye. Make sure to apply the tape to the forehead and cheekbones, not the eyelids or general eye area.
 
We hope that you have a wonderful and safe 4th of July! If you have any questions about eye safety or proper eye protection, please do not hesitate to contact us.
 
For more information on fireworks eye injuries and fireworks eye safety, please visit AAO.org and PreventBlindness.org.
 
Happy Independence Day from all of us at Kadrmas Eye Care New England!