Fireworks Safety and July 4

With the 4th of July coming up, it’s important to remember to be safe while having fun! Fireworks shot off around Independence Day can cause all sorts of injuries – and 15 percent of those injuries are to the eyes.

First and foremost, you only have two eyes. Things can go wrong literally in the blink of an eye. You don’t realize the damage that fireworks can do to you and the people surrounding you,” says Zhu.

Fireworks & Children Never Mix

Children ages 15 and younger accounted for 36 percent of the total injuries and half of the injuries requiring an emergency room visit were to people ages 20 or younger.

Parents, especially, need to closely supervise young children. Many mistakenly think that sparklers are safe for children, but they burn at a very high temperature and account for a significant portion of firework injuries.

“I will never forget one of my first emergency calls as an ophthalmology resident in training when I saw a young boy who suffered a large laceration to his cornea and required emergency surgery that same night,” says Dr. Zhu.

The Risks are Far-Reaching & Severe

It’s not just people using fireworks that need to be careful; 65 percent of firework injuries happen to bystanders.

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 cause permanent eye damage and vision loss.

Tips to Minimize Risk

• Consider wearing polycarbonate, shatterproof safety glasses, especially if you have an underlying eye condition.
• Do not touch unexploded fireworks as they may spontaneously discharge, instead, soak them in water and throw them away.
• Don’t drink alcohol and use fireworks at the same time.

Dr. Dagny Zhu is a board-certified ophthalmologist and cornea, cataract, and refractive surgeon, as well as Medical Director and Partner at Hyperspeed LASIK | NVISION Eye Centers in Los Angeles