Fireworks and Eye Safety

As the July 4^th holiday approaches, it’s important to remember that fireworks, while parts of many holiday festivities, can be dangerous when used by individuals. Recent data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) showed that fireworks-related injuries caused an estimated 6,400 visits to emergency rooms from mid-June to mid-July last year. About 15 percent of injuries from fireworks are eye-related. In many areas, setting off fireworks at home or in local parks is illegal. To stay safe while enjoying the holidays, experience fireworks in authorized public displays. Do not purchase or use fireworks for personal celebrations. Read more from the American Academy of Ophthalmology explaining that Fireworks Injure Thousands of People Every Year; from Johns Hopkins Medicine on Fireworks and Eye Safety: What You Need to Know; and from Prevent Blindness as it Urges Public to Celebrate Independence Safely by Avoiding Fireworks, Attending Displays by Professionals.