Fourth of July Weekend Kicks Off “Eye Injury Prevention” Month

As the Fourth of July is upon us, your weekend is probably filled with plans of family and friends, food and fun. Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley would first like to wish you a happy and safe Fourth of July, and we would also like you to keep safety in mind this weekend – first and foremost. For many, the Fourth of July weekend is filled with backyard BBQs, trips to the beach and (most likely) fireworks. The staff here at Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley would like you remember to protect your eyes this weekend – just in time for Eye Injury Prevention Month. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, fireworks accounted for a large number of emergency room visits, many which were on account of eye injuries.

We would like to remind you that fireworks are in fact illegal in the city of Berkeley, so the best way to stay safe is to see a fireworks show. Some fireworks shows that are taking place in and around Berkeley can be found here. For those of you readers who are traveling out of state, it is important to keep in mind that although fireworks may be legal, they are still dangerous. Some of the most popular fireworks that can cause injuries include firecrackers, sparklers, and bottle rockets.

In order to ensure safe use of fireworks, be sure to follow your state and county’s fireworks laws and remember to neither buy nor handle illegal fireworks. Never let children handle fireworks of any kind, even if they are just sparklers. Adults handling fireworks should wear ANSI (American National Standards Institute) – approved eye protection, which can be found at most hardware stores. Finally, it is important to remember to keep your distance; nearly half the people injured are bystanders. Make sure to stand back and wear safety glasses.

Sorry to get graphic here, but we cannot emphasize the risks of fireworks enough. Some typical eye injuries that result from fireworks include detached retina, scratches on the cornea, ruptured eyeball and burns. If you experience a fireworks eye injury, make sure to get medical attention right away. You should not rub your eyes, rinse your eyes, apply pressure, remove any stuck objects, apply ointments, or take blood thinning pain medicines such as aspirin or ibuprofen.

From everyone over here at Site for Sore Eyes, we would like to wish you a happy and safe Fourth of July weekend!