Family EyeCare Clinic Warns Public about Fireworks Safety

What is July 4th without personal fireworks? SAFE!

Fact: Legal sparklers are the largest cause of fireworks-related emergency-room eye injuries

Burning hot enough to melt gold (1,800 degrees), sparklers, although legal in Ohio, cause more emergency room visits nationwide than firecrackers and other festive explosives, and it’s not always the child holding the sparkler who is injured.

Half of the time, it’s the too-close bystander who gets burned or poked – or both, according to the United States Eye Injury Registry.

“We all want our kids to have fun, but it only takes a second for an innocent-looking sparkler to cause eye injury or blindness. Give your kids a safety lesson on handling sparklers and other fireworks before they use them, and immediately stop any unsafe activity,” said Brian Kane, O.D., of The Family EyeCare Clinic in Willoughby and Painesville, Ohio.

Fireworks and pyrotechnic devices seriously injure thousands of adults and children each year during the July 4 holiday. Many burns and injuries permanently damage eyes, and in some cases, blinding the victims.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says that in 2005 (the most recent year statistics were available), fireworks caused an estimated 10,800 injuries that were treated in U. S. hospital emergency rooms – and about 1,600 cases were eye injuries. Nearly half of those injured were under 15 years old.

Enjoy fireworks safely –take your family to a public display. www.news-herald.com lists local events.
CAREFULLY supervise young children, especially those not holding but who are near sparklers.
In the case of eye injury from any cause, go to the nearest emergency room. Then, follow up with an optometric exam to assess further treatment as needed.

Family EyeCare Clinic is located in Willoughby at 37131 Euclid Ave. or in Painesville at 77 Normandy Dr. For more information, visit www.familyeyecareclinic.biz

Submitted by Family EyeCare Clinic, edited by Stefanie A. Toth, Editor