No
Fireworks Are Safe, Even Innocent Sparkler Causes Thousands of Eye Injuries
We want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable
Fourth of July season, but please be aware of the facts about fireworks. Fireworks
injuries cause approximately 10,000 visits to the emergency department each
year, most of them involve children who suffer thousands of eye injuries.
Although the most disabling injuries occur with illegal firecrackers, most
injuries are caused by legal fireworks parents buy for their children, such as
sparklers, firecrackers, bottle rockets, and Roman candles. Every year
thousands of patients need treatments who suffer a range of fireworks-related
injuries, from cuts and bruises to damaged corneas and ruptured eyeballs. To
help reduce the number of potentially blinding fireworks accidents this
holiday, the American Academy of Ophthalmology is working to debunk common
myths about fireworks injuries.
Here
are five fireworks myths, debunked:
- Sparklers
are safe for young children. Sparklers burn at 1800 degrees, hot enough to
melt some metals. Sparklers were responsible for most of the injuries to
children age 5 and younger.
- It’s
safer to view fireworks than it is to light or throw them. Bystanders are
injured by fireworks as often as the operators.
- Consumer fireworks are safe. Sparklers
and firecrackers each account for more than 1,400 injuries to the eyes.
- It’s
safe to pick up a firework after it has been lit. Even though it looks
like a dud, it may not act like one.
- It’s not the Fourth of July without consumer fireworks. The Fourth can be complete without using consumer fireworks. The safest way to view fireworks is to watch a professional show.
If
you experience a fireworks injury, we urge you to minimize the damage to the
eye:
- Seek
medical attention immediately.
- Do
not rub the eye. Rubbing may make the injury worse.
- Do
not attempt to rinse the eye.
- Do
not apply pressure to the eye.
- Do
not remove objects from the eye,
- Do
not apply ointments or take pain medications before seeking medical help.
