Keep safety in sight this July 4
Published 4:00 pm Thursday, July 1, 2010
The sights and sounds of a fireworks display are a traditional part of a July 4 celebration. Unfortunately, fireworks can also lead to another annual tradition — a trip to the emergency room.
According to Dr. Faye Andrews, therapeutic optometrist, approximately 6,400 Americans are treated annually for fireworks-related injuries during the July 4 holiday period. And of those, almost 1,600 are treated for injuries to the eye.
“Every year, as many as 400 Americans lose sight in one or both eyes due to fireworks,” Andrews said. “We strongly encourage people to attend only authorized public fireworks display conducted by licensed operators.”
Andrews also had these eye-opening facts about fireworks-related eye injuries:
• Children under 14 account for 45 percent of fireworks-related eye injuries.
• Almost half of fireworks injuries happen to bystanders.
• The fireworks that cause the most injuries are bottle rockets, firecrackers and sparklers.
Dr. Faye Andrews owns and practices at Warrior Eye Care located at 9821 Hwy 31 in Warrior and Cleveland Eye Care located at 36321 Hwy 79 in Cleveland.
Dr. Andrews is a member of Vision Source, the nation’s number one network of private practice optometrists. Founded in 1991, the Vision Source network includes more than 2,100 offices in all 50 states and in Canada.