It’s the time of the year where we look forward to celebrations, holidays... and of course, fireworks! Whether young or old, people from all walk of life come together to watch the spectacular displays that light up the dark skies with colours. Some people choose to view the public firework displays, while others opt for home versions, either bought from vendors or homemade. Unfortunately, these beautiful explosive devices can also shut the curtains of our eyes when we least expect it.
Fact: Sparklers can burn at 2,000°F, which is hot enough to cause a third degree burn!
Eye-opening statistics
According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission*:
- More than 9,000 fireworks-related injuries happen each year on average
- Nearly half are head-related injuries with nearly 30 percent of these injuries to the eyes
- One-fourth of fireworks eye injuries result in permanent vision loss or blindness
- Half the accident victims (approximately 3,300 of them) with fireworks eye injuries are children of age 19 and below
- One-third of all firework injuries for children under the age of 5 are caused by innocent sparklers
- 29% of accidents were due to misuse, such as improper handling, mischief, combined fireworks types, and lighting near explosives; meanwhile 62% were due to malfunctions
* Statistics are compiled during the 4th of July celebration period in 2010 (which accounts for 73% of annual fireworks-related injuries annually in the US)
While all sorts of explosive devices can cause harm to any part of the body, firework devices that fly or emit sparks, like fountains, novelties, public display fireworks, bottle rockets, and sparklers were associated with eye, head, and face injuries. In fact, Marguerite McDonald, MD, who is clinical respondent of American Academy of Ophthalmology shares that “Among the most serious injuries are abrupt trauma to the eye from bottle rockets,” as they can fly erratically, often injuring bystanders. Injuries sustained can vary or include eye lid lacerations, corneal abrasions, traumatic cataract, retinal detachment, optic nerve damage, rupture of the eyeball, eye muscle damage, and complete blindness. Even with the most careful person, the statistics have indicated that it is still likely for a firework accident to occur as a majority of the mishaps were due to malfunctions, a variable that no one could actually predict.
But what do you do if someone’s eyes get injured by firework?
Do not touch or rub the injury, nor do you flush it with water or apply any ointment onto it. Instead, you can protect the eye by taping a paper cup over it while the person seeks for immediate medical treatment – the person’s eyesight may depend on it!
Don’t let your celebration become a tragedy. Think of the safety of your own and your loved ones the next time you choose to pick up light one of these explosives.
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Published in eye glamour (vol.20) under the Eye Care section in September 2011.
