The Dangers that Fireworks can Pose to your Eyes

The numbers are clear: Fireworks are dangerous, despite being advertised as toys. You may think you know how to handle them safely. But playing with fireworks can blind you. More than 65% of people injured by fireworks are bystanders, according to National Library of Medicine.

Even children and people not handling fireworks may be in as much danger as the people actually lighting fireworks. All users and bystanders should wear eye protection that meets the criteria set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

This New Year’s Eve, leave fireworks to the professionals. Here are some important facts and statistics to take into account before you decided to get fireworks for your family.

Fireworks Misfires and Malfunctions

Most firework accidents result from unsafe handling. Even correct use can kill or injure well-meaning and safety-minded people. Fireworks can misfire, discharge in the wrong direction or ignite all at once in a massive, uncontrollable explosion.

Simple mistakes, like holding a firework at a wrong angle, have killed users and bystanders by shooting the explosive in an unexpected direction. Regardless of how careful you are, flaws in equipment and explosives are a leading cause of fireworks injuries and deaths — and more people are harmed every year.

Legal Fireworks May Contain Dangerous Parts

Even legally purchased fireworks can have unsafe or illegal contents. This can cause fireworks to malfunction and kill or injure people nearby, despite proper handling.

Nearly half of the publicly sold fireworks examined by CPSC’s Office of Compliance and Field Operations in 2022 contained dangerously modified fuses, banned chemicals or unsafe levels of explosive materials.

Sparklers Can Cause Severe Eye Injuries

Sparklers can be especially dangerous, as they burn at more than 2,000 degrees Farenheit. Sparklers were responsible for 600 fireworks injuries in the latest report. Children are often allowed to play with sparklers because these fireworks are considered relatively harmless. But that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Children age 15 and under accounted for about one-third of the total sparkler injuries, according to the recent reports. Teenagers 15 to 19 years old were most likely to require emergency treatment for fireworks injuries. Firecrackers were the top cause of injury, sending more than 1,300 people to the emergency room.

What to do if you suffer a firework eye injury

The most recent Consumer Product Safety Commission report found that 16% of fireworks injuries were eye injuries. In the most severe cases, fireworks can rupture the globe of the eye, cause chemical and thermal burns, corneal abrasions and retinal detachment.

Fireworks-related eye injuries can combine blunt force trauma, heat burns and chemical exposure. An eye injury from fireworks is a medical emergency.

If you or a family member suffers an eye injury due to a fireworks accident, you can follow these recommendations:

• Do not rub your eyes.
• Do not rinse your eyes.
• Do not apply pressure.
• Do not remove any objects that are stuck in the eye.

Fireworks are far from harmless fun—they are hazardous devices capable of causing severe and life-altering injuries, particularly to the eyes. The statistics make it clear: even seemingly innocuous fireworks like sparklers can cause devastating harm, especially to children and teenagers.

This New Year’s Eve, prioritize safety and celebrate responsibly. Leave fireworks to the professionals and follow precautions to protect yourself and your loved ones. Remember, no celebration is worth risking your vision or your life.

Source: American Academy of Ophtalmology