Celebrating the 4th of July is always a fun time consisting of barbeques, festivals, friends and of course fireworks. We all love to watch the beautiful light show that takes place in the sky and some even like to set off their own fireworks. Did you know that more than 9,000 fireworks injuries happen each year on average in the United States, with roughly 1 in 8 fireworks injuries harming the eyes, according to the most recent fireworks injury report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Here are some safety tips:
- Adults handling fireworks should ALWAYS wear protective eyewear.
- Light fireworks one at a time and move back quickly.
- NEVER let children handle fireworks.
- Never touch an unexploded firework.
- If you are watching fireworks, stay behind the safety barricades.
If you do happen to get an eye injury from fireworks, here are some things to remember:
- Seek medical attention IMMEDIATELY.
- Do not remove any object in the eye.
- Do not rub or rinse eyes.
We hope everyone has a safe and happy Fourth of July!
