Article

Urge caution on Fourth of July

Nearly 6,000 Americans spent part of their Fourth of July holiday in the emergency room in 2009 due to fireworks injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Of those, fireworks caused an estimated 1,600 eye injuries. The injuries included contusions, lacerations, and foreign bodies in the eye. Some injuries caused permanent vision loss.

Chicago-Nearly 6,000 Americans spent part of their Fourth of July holiday in the emergency room in 2009 due to fireworks injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Of those, fireworks caused an estimated 1,600 eye injuries.

The injuries included contusions, lacerations, and foreign bodies in the eye. Some injuries caused permanent vision loss.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, “safe and sane” fireworks cause more injuries than illegal fireworks, especially to pre-school aged children, in whom 50% of the total injuries were from sparklers. Prevent Blindness America (PBA) urges adults and children not to use consumer fireworks this year and instead only attend displays by licensed fireworks operators. 

Eye-care professionals who are in an area where displays are not offered locally should consider recommending that their patients get the free PBA Safe Summer Celebrations brochure that includes safe ideas on how to celebrate the Fourth of July. Suggestions include face-painting, making patriotic desserts, and creating glow-in-the-dark T-shirts and hats.

PBA also offers its “First Aid for Eye Emergencies” sticker in both English and Spanish, free to the public. Brochures and stickers are available by calling 800/331-2020 or accessing www.preventblindness.org.

Newsletter

Don’t miss out—get Ophthalmology Times updates on the latest clinical advancements and expert interviews, straight to your inbox.

Related Videos
(Image credit: Ophthalmology Times) 50 years of ophthalmology: What changed the game (Part 2)
(Image credit: Ophthalmology Times) 50 years of ophthalmology: What changed the game? (Part 1)
(Image credit: Ophthalmology Times) From MIGS to gene therapy: Inder Paul Singh, MD, celebrates the past and future of glaucoma care
(Image credit: Ophthalmology Times) NeuroOp Guru: Using OCT to forecast outcomes in ethambutol optic neuropathy
(Image credit: Ophthalmology Times) Inside NYEE’s new refractive solutions center with Kira Manusis, MD
(Image credit: Ophthalmology Times) Dilsher Dhoot, MD, on the evolution of geographic atrophy therapy: where are we now?
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.