Each year, Independence Day is one of the busiest days in emergency rooms across the country. While the fireworks we celebrate with are beautiful, exciting, and fun – they are also dangerous. 16% of firework injuries are eye-related, so we join our partners at the American Academy of Ophthalmology in urging you to use caution as you celebrate our nation’s birthday!
Protect Your Eyes this Fourth of July with these Tips:
- All those lighting fireworks AND bystanders should wear eye protection meeting the criteria set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
- If attending a fireworks show, stay at least 500 feet away from where they’re being set off.
- Do not let children light, handle, or play with fireworks.
- Also use caution when using sparklers – at 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, they can easily cause burns and fires.
- If you sustain a firework injury to your eye, report immediately to an Emergency Room. Do not rub, rinse, apply pressure, or try to remove any object from your eye.
We wish you a safe, happy, and fun Fourth of July holiday!
