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How to Protect Your Eyes When Handling Fireworks

June 26, 2023

Watching fireworks from afar poses no risk to your eyesight but setting them off or being too close when someone else does could lead to permanent eye injuries. As the July 4 Independence Day Holiday approaches, please remember that over 6,000 people visit the ER for firework-related injuries for the month surrounding July 4th. Of all those cases, about 20% are eye-related, and those incidents can lead to lasting facial deformities and blindness. 

If you or someone you love is planning on using fireworks this summer, follow these tips to make sure that a fun night doesn’t turn into a life-altering injury. 

Keep a Proper Distance

Anyone lighting a firework should establish a safety perimeter and carefully enforce it, especially for young children who don’t understand the dangers fireworks can pose. If everyone honors that safety perimeter, many incidents can be avoided altogether. 
For ground fireworks, all spectators should be a minimum of 35 feet away. For aerial fireworks, that distance increases to 150 feet at minimum. Ideally, spectators will position themselves about 500 feet away from aerial fireworks for prime viewing and complete peace of mind.

Wear Eye and Body Protection

Those who are going to be inside of the safety perimeter to work with the fireworks should be dressed appropriately. Long pants, closed-toed shoes, and long-sleeved shirts can help protect the skin from burns and debris, but it’s just as important to protect your face and eyes.

Safety glasses should be worn at all times when handling fireworks, and it’s even better to protect your entire face with a durable face shield. Make sure someone nearby has a radio or phone so that you can call for help in case of an emergency. 
Follow Lighting Instructions

Only people with intentions of lighting fireworks should be handling them, and those people should be aware of all the precautions and risks involved. It’s up to the people lighting fireworks to warn others of the dangers and enforce rules like the safety perimeter. You should also announce loud and clear before you light anything and ensure everyone is out of the way and ready.
You should never hold a firework while lighting it. They should always be placed firmly on the ground away from dead foliage and other things that can catch fire. Fresh water should be nearby in case something does catch fire, and you should have a bucket to put spent fireworks into for a few hours before disposing of them.

Know What to Do in Case of an Injury

While it’s difficult to wait without doing anything, that’s what’s recommended in the case of fireworks-related eye injuries as it can cause a combination of heat burns, chemical burns, and blunt force trauma. 
Until an expert can evaluate the injury, any person who has been affected should avoid touching, rubbing, or rinsing the eye. It’s also important to avoid any blood-thinning medications, like over-the-counter pain relievers. 
Following basic safety precautions can help you prevent any mishaps, but now that you know what to do to keep you and your loved ones safe this summer, don’t forget to share this information with family and friends. If you incur an eye injury for any reason, please consult your nearest optometrist, ophthalmologist, or emergency room physician for prompt evaluation.

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