Fireworks Safety

Fireworks Safety Month, lasting from June 1st to July 4th, is sponsored by Prevent Blindness America, a volunteer organization committed to providing education, training, and assistance to those with vision problems or eye injuries. Prevent Blindness America warns that there is no safe way for nonprofessionals to use fireworks. It is only safe to enjoy the splendor and excitement of fireworks at a professional display.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, "Fireworks were involved in an estimated 9,600 injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms in 2004. This is an increase of 300 cases from 2003."

An estimated 6,600 injuries were treated in hospital emergency rooms during the one month period surrounding the Fourth of July.

The following data is from the 6,600 estimate:

• Eyes and head/face were the second most commonly injured parts of the body with an estimated 1,400 fireworks-related injuries of each type treated last year. The hands were the most commonly injured body part (2,200 cases).
• Data shows that bystanders are more often injured by fireworks than the people who set them off.
• 40 percent of the injuries were to children 15 and younger. Males suffered three times the number of injuries as females (75 percent). Children 5 to 9 years in age have the highest injury rate for fireworks-related injuries (30 percent).
• Firecrackers and sparklers were the top contributors to fireworks injuries. And, half of the 700 injuries to children 5 years old and younger were from sparklers.
• The U.S. Consumer Product Commission reported that eight people were killed by fireworks-related incidents in 2004.

Fireworks and celebrations go together, especially during the Fourth of July, but there are precautions parents can take to prevent these injuries. The best defense against kids suffering severe eye injuries and burns is to not let kids play with any fireworks.

Do not purchase, use, or store fireworks of any type. Protect yourself, your family, and your friends by avoiding fireworks. Attend only authorized public fireworks displays conducted by licensed operators, but be aware that even professional displays can be dangerous.

If an accident does occur, what can you do right away to minimize the damage to the eye?

These six steps can help save your child's sight if an accident has happened:

• Do not rub the eye. Rubbing the eye may increase bleeding or make the injury worse.
• Do not attempt to rinse out the eye. This can be even more damaging than rubbing.
• Do not apply pressure to the eye itself. Holding or taping a foam cup or the bottom of a juice carton to the eye are just two tips. Protecting the eye from further contact with any item, including the child's hand, is the goal.
• Do not stop for medicine! Over-the-counter pain relievers will not do much to relieve pain. Aspirin (should never be given to children) and ibuprofen can thin the blood, increasing bleeding. Take the child to the emergency room at once - this is more important than stopping for a pain reliever.
• Do not apply ointment. Ointment, which may not be sterile, makes the area around the eye slippery and harder for the doctor to examine.
• Do not let your child play with fireworks, even if his/her friends are setting them off. Sparklers burn at 1800 degrees Fahrenheit, and bottle rockets can stray off course or throw shrapnel when they explode.

Please treat fireworks with respect, read all of the cautions and warnings and use common sense.<