The 4th of July is coming up and that means looking forward to parades, celebrations, back yard bbqs and of course, fireworks. However, as spectacular as fireworks are, they can be very dangerous. There were 10,000 fireworks-related injuries in 2014 and 1,300 of those were eye injuries.
- One in six fireworks-related injuries results in permanent vision loss.
- On average, 400 Americans lose sight in one or both eyes due to fireworks every year.
- 45 percent of fireworks-related injuries occur in children under the age of 14.
Tips on Firework Safety
Attend professional public fireworks shows is safer than purchasing consumer fireworks
If you choose to to purchase your own fireworks, wear protective eyewear when handling the fireworks. People watching should also wear eye protection as nearly half of people injured by fireworks are bystanders.
Children should never be allowed to play with fireworks. Even sparklers can reach temperatures of 1800 degrees F. They can catch clothes on fire and cause severe burns.
If an eye injury occurs, make sure to seek medical attention immediately to prevent loss of sight. Do not rub, rinse, apply pressure to the eye, or remove objects that are stuck in the eye.
Keep these tips and mind and be safe. Happy 4th of July from all of us at the Optometric Center & Eyewear Galleria!
