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 |
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10% |
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Fountains |
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7% |
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Spinners and
Novelties |
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5% |
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Roman Candles |
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4% |
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Reloadable Mortars |
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3% |
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Public Displays |
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3% |
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Repeating Mines
and Shells |
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1% |
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Homemade Devices |
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1% |
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Smoke Devices |
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1% |
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Helicopters |
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1% |
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Miscellaneous |
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2% |
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Unknown |
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15% |
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TOTAL |
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100% |
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1. Illegal firecrackers represent 42% of all firecracker injuries.
Source: American Pyrotechnics Association
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http://www.americanpyro.com/
Fireworks Eye Injuries
Injuries to the eye from fireworks, most commonly bottle rockets, can
be devastating:
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Approximately 2000 eye injuries occur each year from consumer
fireworks use.
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About one-third of these injuries result in permanent eye damage
and one-fourth in permanent vision loss or blindness.
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Almost one in twenty fireworks-related eye injury victims lose
all useful vision or require removal of the eye.
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Data from the United States Eye Injury Registry shows that
bystanders are more often injured by fireworks than operators
themselves.
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44 percent of the injured are children ages 19 years old and
under.
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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.
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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.
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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.
