Eye Trauma from Fireworks
The use of
fireworks by non-professionals leads to a significant number of
injuries each year, many of which go unreported. The "legal"
status of amateur fireworks varies from state to state, but
certain types of fireworks are clearly more dangerous than
others. Nevertheless, even sparklers, which are often dismissed
as having minimal risk, burn at 1800 degrees (hot enough to melt
gold). Sparklers accounted for 10% of reported injuries in 1997
(see chart below).
Firecracker
use accounted for 32% of the injuries reported (with 42% of the
injuries associated with nationally illegal firecrackers). Sky
rockets, or bottle rockets, accounted for 15% of the injuries.
These are largely eye injuries, with bottle rockets accounting
for most of the 2000 eye injuries per year associated with
fireworks usage.
Fireworks
Injuries by Type of Device
The
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), through the
National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), collects
data on injuries associated with consumer products, including
fireworks. The data indicate which consumer product was
associated with a particular injury, but do not mean that the
product necessarily caused the injury.
For
1997, there were an estimated 8,300 fireworks-related injuries.
The breakdown, by type of device, for the estimated injuries
during the peak holiday season (June 23 to July 23, 1997) is:
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Fireworks
Device |
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% of
Estimated Injuries |
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Firecrackers1 |
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32% |
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Sky Rockets |
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15% |
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Sparklers |
|
10% |
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Fountains |
|
7% |
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Spinners and
Novelties |
|
5% |
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Roman Candles |
|
4% |
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Reloadable
Mortars |
|
3% |
|
Public Displays |
|
3% |
|
Repeating Mines
and Shells |
|
1% |
|
Homemade Devices |
|
1% |
|
Smoke Devices |
|
1% |
|
Helicopters |
|
1% |
|
Miscellaneous |
|
2% |
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Unknown |
|
15% |
|
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|
|
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TOTAL |
|
100% |
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1. Illegal firecrackers represent 42% of all firecracker
injuries.
Source:
American
Pyrotechnics Association -
http://www.americanpyro.com/
Fireworks Eye
Injuries
Injuries to the eye
from fireworks, most commonly bottle rockets, can be
devastating:
-
Approximately 2000 eye injuries occur each year from consumer
fireworks use.
-
About
one-third of these injuries result in permanent eye damage and
one-fourth in permanent vision loss or blindness.
-
Almost
one in twenty fireworks-related eye injury victims lose all
useful vision or require removal of the eye.
-
Data from
the United States Eye Injury Registry shows that bystanders
are more often injured by fireworks than operators themselves.
-
44
percent of the injured are children ages 19 years old and
under.
-
72
percent of the victims were male.
Source:
Prevent Blindness America -
www.preventblindness.org.
Prevent
Blindness America warns that there is no safe way for
non-professionals to use fireworks. It is only safe to enjoy the
splendor and excitement of fireworks at a professional display.
While
most injuries occur with legal fireworks, some states are
debating legalizing an even broader range of fireworks. Heavy
lobbying by the fireworks industry, promising more tax revenue
through fireworks sales, may result in an increase in
fireworks-related injuries.
The
single most dangerous type of firework is the bottle rocket,
which flies erratically and causes bystander injury.
The bottles and cans used to
launch them often explode, showering fragments of glass and
metal.
From
1980-1994, fireworks accounted for 29 fires, 65 explosions and
114 deaths. The victims of these accidents ranged in ages from 4
months to 88 years old.
Ocular Trauma
from Fireworks
Eye
injuries from fireworks and especially bottle rockets can be
severe, with total loss of vision possible. This following
photographs represent possible external eye injuries from
fireworks. Internal eye injuries can also occur, easily leading
to loss of vision through blunt trauma. Retinal injury can lead
to an immediate loss of vision. Cataract and glaucoma can be
long term problems. Remember, children bystanders are the most
frequently injured.
The
following 6 images are graphic, and may be repulsive to some.
If you would like to skip this section, go to the
Eye Safety section now.
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Examples of
the Types of Injuries Possible with Direct Trauma from a
Projectile type of Firework
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Blood
on Ocular Surface
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Traumatic Eyelid Laceration
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Torn
Iris |
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Blood
Layering out in Front Part of Eye (Hyphema)
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Rupture
of Cornea with Iris Prolapsing Out
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Rupture
of Cornea with Iris Prolapsing Out
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Attending
a public fireworks display on the Fourth of July is a safe and
patriotic way to honor out tradition of independence, our shared
values, and our hopes for a healthy future. Professional
displays rarely lead to injury.
If
an accident does occur during a non-professional display, what
can you do right away to minimize the damage to the eye. These
eight action can help save your child's sight.
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Do not delay
medical attention even for seemingly mild injuries. "Mildly"
damaged areas can worsen and end in serious vision loss, even
blindness, that might not have happened if treatment had
occurred immediately.
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Stay calm, do not
panic; keep the child as calm as possible.
-
Do not rub the
eye. If any eye tissue is torn, rubbing might push out the
eye's contents and cause more damage. Trying to rub the eye is
an automatic response to pain, but pressure will only do more
harm. Take the child's hand from his or her face.
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Do not attempt to
rinse out the eye. This can be even more damaging than
rubbing.
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Shield the eye
from pressure. Tape or secure the bottom of a foam cup, milk
carton or similar shield against the bones surrounding the
eye: brow, cheek and bridge of the nose.
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Avoid giving
aspirin or ibuprofen (or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs, called "N-SAIDS") to try to reduce the pain. They thin
the blood and might increase bleeding. Acetaminophen is the
over-the-counter drug of choice. Unfortunately,
non-prescription painkillers will not be of much help. It is
better to by-pass the drugstore or medicine cabinet and get to
the emergency room right away.
-
Do not apply
ointment or any medication. It is probably not sterile. Also,
ointments make the eye area slippery. This could slow the
doctor's examination at a time when every second counts.
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Above all, do not
let your child play with fireworks. If you must attend a
non-professional fireworks display, have all present wear
safety goggles (which may not prevent all injuries). Regular
glasses will not prevent injury, and may break or shatter if
impacted by flying debris. Again, the best option is to
attend a professional fireworks display.
