Fireworks have become a year-round pastime for many people. While they are fun to ignite and enjoyable to watch, they can be dangerous, especially to the eyes. Learn more about the consequences of fireworks eye injuries, what to do if they occur, and important tips for fireworks safety.* 

What are the consequences of eye injuries from fireworks?

An expert at Baylor College of Medicine says that fireworks injuries are on the rise and one-third of eye injuries result in permanent vision loss. In addition to blindness, other firework eye injuries may include:

• Burn to the eye and/or eyelids
• Foreign bodies in the eye
• Scratches to the eye that can cause scarring

How can I make fireworks safer?

To help protect yourself and your loved ones, follow these safety tips:

• Wear protective eyewear or have a barrier between you and the fireworks
• Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
• Avoid buying fireworks that are packaged in brown paper because this is often a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and that they could pose a danger to consumers.
• Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities. Parents don’t realize that young children suffer injuries from sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees – hot enough to melt some metals.
• Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Back up to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.
• Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully.
• Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
• Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire.
• Light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly.
• Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.
• After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding it to prevent a trash fire.
• Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.

What should I do if I have an eye injury from fireworks?

To prevent the eye injury from getting worse: 

• Do not touch, rub or rinse the eyes
• Do not apply pressure to the eyes
• Do not remove any objects from the eye
• Do not take any blood-thinning medicine such as aspirin or ibuprofen

Seek immediate medical attention if you have a firework eye injury to prevent blindness and help ensure proper healing. 

*Jimenez, J. (2020, June 10). Expert offers tips on protecting your eyes from fireworks. Baylor College of Medicine. https://www.bcm.edu/news/protecting-eyes-from-fireworks

Fireworks. (2021, June 29). CPSC.Gov. https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Fireworks