Local Ophthalmologist Says Protect Your Vision From Fireworks

6/30/2003 1:00:00 AM

Last year an estimated 8,800 firework injuries landed Americans in a hospital emergency room, including 1,600 eye injuries. Most of the injuries occurred in the weeks surrounding the Fourth of July holiday.

FORT MYERS, Fla – June 30, 2003 – Last year an estimated 8,800 firework injuries landed Americans in a hospital emergency room, including 1,600 eye injuries. Most of the injuries occurred in the weeks surrounding the Fourth of July holiday. This Independence Day ophthalmologists around the country are calling attention to the incidence of injury and are urging caution in the use of fireworks.

“Injuries from fireworks often result in permanent vision loss,” said Rick Palmon, M.D, a board-certified ophthalmologist with offices in Fort Myers and Naples. “The typical victim is a teenager, at home, unsupervised, with a group of friends. Losing your sight or losing a finger is a tragic price to pay for a few minutes of fun with fireworks.”

In an effort to reduce these preventable injuries, ophthalmologists across America encourage families to attend local public fireworks displays instead of using fireworks at home this Fourth of July. This recommendation is made as part of Fireworks Eye Safety Month sponsored by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Attending a public fireworks display on the Fourth is a safe way to honor our tradition of independence. "One of the reasons fireworks injuries continue to occur is because people don't know how dangerous these devices can be,” said Dr. Rick Palmon, an ophthalmologist with offices in Fort Myers and Naples. The risk of losing an eye is not worth the excitement of watching fireworks explode."

Although illegal fireworks, bottle rockets and Roman candles account for the majority of injuries, seemingly harmless sparklers also cause numerous injuries each year. For children under the age of five, sparklers account for most of the fireworks injuries. Fascinated by the bright sparks, children find these sticks of fire - burning as hot as 1,200 degrees, hot enough to melt gold - irresistible to touch.

Dr. Palmon states, "The safest and most spectacular way to view fireworks is through professionally conducted, community sponsored displays, but if you are going to be setting off fireworks at home, make sure children are supervised" Fireworks Eye Safety Tips •Public firework displays are the safest way to view fireworks •View public fireworks displays from at least 500 feet (1/4 mile) away. •Do not touch unexploded fireworks. •Illegal fireworks, such as bottle rockets and Roman candles, account for the majority of injuries, but legal "Class C Common Fireworks" cause thousands of injuries each year. •Bottle rockets are the most dangerous. The rockets fly erratically and the bottles or cans used to launch the rockets can explode, showering fragments of glass or metal, often resulting in bystander injuries. •For children under the age of 5, sparklers account for three-quarters of all fireworks injuries. Fascinated by the bright sparks, children find these sticks of fire - burning as hot as 1,200 degrees, hot enough to melt gold - irresistible to touch. •When setting off fireworks, wear protective goggles. Regular prescription glasses or sunglasses provide little or no protection to the eye.

If you do incur an eye injury from a firework, see medical attention immediately, even if the injury appears to be mild,” suggests Dr. Palmon. “Immediate treatment is always the best way to prevent permanent vision loss.”