Spend July 4 with friends and family, not in the ER
Of the thousands of emergency room visits each year on July 4, over five thousand are due to the use of fireworks, with 65% of the injured being bystanders. Children ages 10 to 14 receive the highest percentage of injuries. In 2021, 14% of injuries due to fireworks were to children under the age of five.
Prevent Blindness America warns that fireworks are extremely dangerous and recommends not buying, using or storing fireworks and sparklers of any type. On July 4, 2019, there were approximately 900 reported eye injuries due to sparklers, 800 due to firecrackers and 400 due to bottle rockets. These injuries include scratches, burns and ruptures of the cornea and the eyeball.
If an eye injury does occur, you should cover the eye with a rigid shield (the bottom half of paper cup works well) and immediately seek emergency medical treatment. Do not remove an object, rub, rinse, apply ointment or pressure, or take aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication (ibuprofen or naproxen sodium).
Prevent Blindness America encourages everyone to enjoy the holiday this year, without the use of consumer fireworks. Leave the shows to the professionals but remember these displays can also be dangerous; protect yourself and family by keeping a safe distance from all fireworks.
Have a safe Independence Day!
(sources: preventblindness.org and aao.org)
Linda Walsh, RN
Parish Nurse, Catholic Church of St. Ann
lwalshrn@st-ann.org
Photo by Timothy Eberly on Unsplash
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