“Better To Be Safe Than Sorry” This July 4th Holiday

The Fourth of July holiday season is just two months away, but it is not too early to remind you that it is “better to be safe than sorry” when being around fireworks of any kind.

Let’s face it! No one is safe. Every year in Illinois, babies, boys and girls, teens, and men and women in their 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, 50’s, 70’s and 80’s are burned or hurt by fireworks. Fireworks not only damage eyes but hands, fingers, faces, ears and bodies. They burn, cut and puncture. They can maim and kill. Why take a chance! Play it safe and have a fun-filled and eye-safe holiday.

Since 1976, the Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blindness has been conducting an annual fire-works survey, with the results being published in The Visionary each year.

Hospital emergency rooms, ophthalmologists and optometrists statewide were contacted to assist us in gathering data for the 2002 ISPB Illinois Fireworks Annual Survey.

The results revealed that 50 percent of the fireworks eye injuries were to children and young adults through the age of twenty (down from 84 percent in 2001).

The age breakdown (percentage) was:

Other survey results (in averaged percentages)showed that 67 percent of those treated were males, while 17 percent were females with 17 percent unspecified. Bottle rockets led the list in causing the most eye-related injuries at 50 percent, followed by roman candles and dynamite, both at 17 percent with 17 percent unspecified.

As reported by the respondents, all the fireworks listed caused varying degrees of eye injuries, including eye lacerations, abrasions, corneal burns, ruptured globe (eyeball) by a roman candle, requiring surgery and one 22-year old male with probable loss of sight from the effects of dynamite.

IF fireworks must play a part in your holiday celebration, please heed the following practical safety tips:

• Keep younger children away from all fireworks;
• Follow all directions if using fireworks;
• Never make or use homemade fireworks;
• Use fireworks outdoors only;
• Keep water nearby for emergencies;
• Sparklers (which burn at 1800°) should be immersed in water once they appear to be out;
• Never use illegal explosives—M-80s, M-100s, etc.;
• Leave display fireworks to professionals;
• Protect your eyes by wearing safety goggles;
• Be sure bystanders and pets are out of range;
• In case of fireworks eye-related injuries, do not touch, rub or press on the injured eye. Seek immediate care from an eye care professional or hospital emergency room.

Don’t Be Blinded by the  Dangers of Fireworks!

The Visionary, published as a service of the Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blindness,
is available upon request. The information contained in this issue,
taken from sources considered to be accurate,
does not replace the need for professional eye care consultations and treatments.

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