Fourth of July eye safety

• Posted on: Jun 23 2022
• By: Jim Wiegand

The time for fireworks is here, and so is the time to be diligent with eye safety during your 4^th of July celebrations.

Tower Clock Eye Center and other eye care centers see an uptick in eye injuries this time of year and it’s important to celebrate the holiday safely.

A recent Consumer Product Safety Commission report shows that approximately 15% of injuries from fireworks are eye injuries. Injuries vary, but the worse cases involve severe burns to the eye, corneal abrasions, retinal detachments and even ruptures to the globe. All of these are serious enough to cause irreversible damage to the eye, and even blindness.

Whereas large fireworks that explode are the most dangerous, even the mild-mannered sparkler can pose a safety threat due to the extreme temperature in which they burn.

But it’s not those handling fireworks that are most susceptible to firework-related injury. In fact, most people hurt by fireworks are bystanders and revelers. The report also shows that about half of those in need of emergency services are younger than 20 years old.

How to stay safe

The best advice to stay safe is to leave fireworks to the professionals. Yes, it’s best to attend public fireworks displays rather than buying them at a retailer for private use. However, we know that family firework displays are very popular so here are some tips to follow for a safer experience:

• Close adult supervision for all those handling fireworks (sparklers included)
• Young children should NOT handle fireworks
• Keep all those watching at a safe distance
• Fireworks should be used at a safe distance from houses or combustible materials
• No running or playing with fireworks
• Treat dud fireworks like they are still live and capable of igniting
• Do not attempt to light dud fireworks
• Keep a bucket of water or a hose nearby to douse dud fireworks
• Do not alter fireworks in any way
• Store fireworks safely
• Keep your pets safe. Keep them inside and do what you can to keep them calm.

What to do in case of an eye injury

Firework accidents will happen. In the case you, or someone you are near, suffer a fireworks-related eye injury it’s important to:

• Find or seek medical help immediately
• Stay calm
• Don’t remove any debris that is stuck in the eye
• Don’t apply pressure to the eye
• Don’t rinse your eye with any fluids
• Don’t rub your eyes

Have a happy and safe 4^th of July holiday! Our normal business hours will resume on Tuesday, July 3.

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