June 21, 2023 — Prevent Blindness has declared June 28-July 4 as the third annual Fireworks Safety Awareness Week. The nonprofit’s dedicated webpage offers free fact sheets and shareable social media graphics to help educate the public and assist eyecare professionals in discussing fireworks and eye safety with their patients. Additionally, Prevent Blindness issued a statement detailing its position on the importation, sale, and use of fireworks.
According to the American Pyrotechnics Association, 49 states plus the District of Columbia allow some or all types of consumer fireworks. Illinois and Vermont allow only wire or wood stick sparklers and other novelty items, and Massachusetts bans all consumer fireworks.
The most recent annual report from the Consumer Product Safety Commission found that an estimated 8,500 fireworks-related injuries were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments around the holiday last year. Additionally, there were nine nonoccupational fireworks-related deaths during that time period. According to the report, 14% of these injuries were to the eyes.
A new episode of the “Seeing Eye to Eye: Celebrating Eye Health” Facebook live series from BlackDoctor.org, titled “Fireworks: Be Careful,” will debut on Tuesday, June 27, at 7 p.m. ET. A collaboration with Prevent Blindness, the National Eye Institute, and the Children’s Vision Equity Alliance, the discussion will feature Rachel Hooper, M.D., clinical assistant professor of surgery in the section of plastic and reconstructive surgery, department of surgery at the University of Michigan School of Medicine, and Stephen McLeod, M.D., cornea and refractive surgeon, chief executive officer for the American Academy of Ophthalmology and professor and chair emeritus in the department of ophthalmology at the University of California, San Francisco.
“Have a safe Independence Day this year by leaving the fireworks to licensed professionals,” says Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness. “And remember to be vigilant about your surroundings, as bystanders can also be injured by errant fireworks and shrapnel.”
For more information: preventblindness.org.