FIREWORKS SAFETY

The ISPB continued in 2000 to assist in the “Operation Prevent Injury” coalition program, which focuses on the importance of fireworks safety, including the transport of illegal fireworks from Indiana to Illinois.

Diligent efforts will be made during the weeks prior and through the 4th of July holiday in 2001 to educate more adults and children through videos, brochures, posters, billboards; to strengthen and better implement existing legislation; and to monitor the border of Illinois and Indiana.

Left to the professionals, fireworks can be a spectacular addition to the Independence Day Holiday. But in the hands of amateurs, fireworks can turn the festivities into tragedy.

Even knowing the dangers of fireworks some people will still consider celebrating with them. Here are some safety tips to keep in mind:

• Use eye protection if you are an operator of fireworks or a bystander;
• Keep younger children away from all fireworks;
• Older children should only be permitted to use fireworks under close supervision;
• Never use homemade fireworks;
• Never re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks. Soak them in water and discard them properly;
• Never extend any part of the body over lit fireworks;
• Keep water nearby for emergencies;
• Keep water nearby for emergencies;

In case of eye injuries do not touch, rub or press on the injured eye. Seek immediate care from an eye care professional or hospital emergency room.

ISPB Annual Illinois Fireworks Survey

Each year the ISPB conducts its Illinois Annual Fireworks Survey by contacting hospital emergency rooms, ophthalmologists and optometrists during the 4th of July holiday season. The survey results for 2000 include percentages for ages of children and adults injured, gender, kinds of fireworks and types of eye/body related injuries.

The averaged percentages for ages were: under 11 years of age (16 percent); aged 11 through 20 (38 percent); aged 21 through 41 (38 percent); aged 42 through 50 (8 percent).

Seventy-three percent of those treated were males, while 27 percent were females.

Firecrackers led the list for the most eye-related injuries (35 percent), followed by bottle rockets (24 percent), roman candles (12 percent) and unknown (12 percent). Other types of fireworks reported were cherry bombs, sky rockets, sparklers and liquid stink bombs.

All fireworks injuries reported caused varying degrees of eye/facial/body injuries, including corneal burns, abrasions, trauma, hyphema and partial finger loss.

Don’t be blinded by the dangers of fireworks.

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The Visionary, published as a service of the Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blindness,
is available upon request. The information contained in this issue,
taken from sources considered to be accurate,
does not replace the need for professional eye care consultations and treatments.

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