Eye M.D.s Offer Tips for Fireworks Safety

SAN FRANCISCO – For this Fourth of July holiday, the American Academy of Ophthalmology urges families to attend public fireworks displays put on by professionals.

Decades of accidents teach us that consumer fireworks are dangerous. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 9,000 fireworks-related injuries are seen in emergency rooms each year. Of these, nearly half are head-related injuries with nearly 30 percent of these injuries to the eyes.  One-fourth of fireworks eye injuries result in permanent vision loss or blindness.

Illegal fireworks including bottle rockets and Roman candles account for the majority of injuries.  Bottle rockets are the most dangerous because they fly erratically, causing bystander injuries.

The typical fireworks victim is young. Children 15 years old or younger account for 50 percent of all fireworks eye injuries in the United States.

For children under the age of five, seemingly harmless sparklers account for one-third of all fireworks injuries.  Sparklers can burn at nearly 2,000 degress Fahrenheit.

“A sparkler's intense heat can burn not only skin, but also the eyes,” said Stuart Dankner, MD, an Academy clinical correspondent. “I’ve treated several children who suffered corneal burns from sparklers. This type of ocular injury can lead to corneal scars and permanent vision loss.”

The Academy urges observance of the following safety tips:

• Never let children play with fireworks of any type.
• View fireworks from a safe distance – at least 500 feet away, or up to a quarter of a mile for best viewing.
• Respect safety barriers set up to allow pyrotechnicians to do their jobs safely.
• Leave the lighting of fireworks to trained professionals.
• Follow directives given by event ushers or public safety personnel.
• If you find unexploded fireworks remains, do not touch them. Immediately contact your local fire or police departments.

“Attending professional fireworks displays, instead of using fireworks at home, is a safe way to honor our tradition of independence and our hopes for a healthy future,” Dr. Dankner said.