Prevent Blindness warns public on potential dangers of using fireworks.
CHICAGO, June 27, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Prevent Blindness, the nation's leading patient advocacy organization dedicated to preventing blindness and preserving sight, has declared June 28-July 4, 2025, as the Fifth Annual Fireworks Safety Awareness Week in an effort to educate the public on the dangers of fireworks. Prevent Blindness offers a dedicated webpage, PreventBlindness.org/fireworks, free fact sheets and shareable social media graphics. Prevent Blindness and the National Center for Children's Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness offer ideas for fireworks alternatives for safe celebrations.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) "2023 Fireworks Annual Report" (the latest year for which data is available), fireworks devices were involved in an estimated 6,400 injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments around the Independence Day holiday, from June 16-July 16, 2023. And, close to 20 percent of those injuries were to the eyes.
Burns were the most common injury to hands and fingers; head, face, and ears; arm; and leg regions. However, contusions and lacerations were the most common injury to eyes. Teens aged 15 to 19 years had the highest estimated rate of emergency department treated, fireworks-related injuries. Children 5 to 9 years of age had the second highest estimated rate.
Prevent Blindness urges the public to attend only authorized public fireworks displays conducted by licensed operators, and reminds everyone to be aware that even professional displays can be dangerous. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends those attending professional displays to respect safety barriers, follow all safety instructions, and view fireworks from at least 500 feet away. All users and bystanders should wear eye protection that meets the criteria set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). And finally, do not touch unexploded fireworks; instead, immediately contact local fire or police departments to help.
In the event of an eye injury, Prevent Blindness makes the following recommendations:
- Seek medical attention immediately.
"By avoiding fireworks, or attending fireworks displays conducted by licensed professionals only, you will help the Fourth of July remain a joyous occasion to celebrate with family and friends, not a day spent in an emergency room," said Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness.
For more information on the dangers of fireworks or for ideas on how to celebrate safely without fireworks, visit https://preventblindness.org/fireworks.
About Prevent Blindness
Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness is the nation's leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. Focused on promoting a continuum of vision care, Prevent Blindness touches the lives of millions of people each year through public and professional education, advocacy, certified vision screening and training, community and patient service programs and research. These services are made possible through the generous support of the American public. Together with a network of affiliates, Prevent Blindness is committed to eliminating preventable blindness in America. For more information, visit us at PreventBlindness.org, and follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube.
Media Contact
Sarah Hecker, Prevent Blindness, 312.363.6035, [email protected], PreventBlindness.org
SOURCE Prevent Blindness
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