Did you know that on July 4th, an estimated 10,500 firework injuries will be reported across the US?
1 in 5 of those will be an eye related injury.
Even if you are extremely careful, be aware that many firework injuries are reported by innocent bystanders. According to the 2014 commission’s report, 35% of those were under the age of 15.
FIREWORK SAFETY TIPS:
– Respect safety barriers & view fireworks from at least 500 feet away.
– Wear protective eyewear when lighting and handling fireworks of any kind, preferably eyewear that meets parameters set by the American National Standards Institute.
– Do NOT handle unexploded fireworks after being lit. Contact local fire or police departments to handle those.
– Do not allow children to handle fireworks
– Try to avoid sparklers that heat up to 1,800 degrees.
If you are injured by fireworks:
– DO NOT rub the eye.
– Use eye wash or let natural tears wash out any specks or loose particles.
– If the speck doesn’t wash out, keep the eye closed, bandage the eye and go to the emergency room.
If an eye injury does occur, always follow up with a full optometric eye exam. Dr. Thomas will help ensure that the injury heals correctly and will continue to monitor for future vision problems.