More eye injuries occur on the Fourth of July than on any other night of the year
Brace yourself. It’s about to get dangerous out there.
A friend of mine, an eye surgeon, once told me that more eye injuries occur on the Fourth of July than any other night of the year. And about 9:00 PM tonight is zero hour.
If fireworks are part of your plan this evening, these tips from Prevent Blindness America might help you avoid a trip to the ER…
- Firecrackers are the most common cause of fireworks-related eye injuries, followed by sparklers and rockets
- Children aged 15 years and younger are involved in nearly 40% of all fireworks injuries
- Sparklers cause half the total injuries in children under the age of five
- Bystanders suffer more fireworks-related injuries than fireworks-operators do
If you or someone you’re with experiences an eye injury, here are the essential steps recommended by PBA…
If there are specks in the eye
- Do not rub the eye
- Use an eye wash or let tears wash out specks or particles
- Lift the upper eyelid outward and down over the lower lid
- If the speck doesn’t wash out, keep the eye closed,
- Apply a bandage, and see a doctor as soon as possible
If the eye or eyelid is cut or punctured
- Do not wash out the eye with water
- Do not try to remove an object stuck in the eye
- Cover the eye with a rigid shield without pressure
- Go to an ER immediately
That said, I hope your eyes won’t need any special care — tonight or any night.
