| Imagine a sandy-haired 12-year-old who is the best | | | | injuries result in permanent vision loss or blindness. |
| hitter on his Little League baseball team. Like many | | | | Illegal fireworks, including firecrackers, bottle rockets |
| boys his age, he dreams that one day he will play | | | | and Roman candles, account for the majority of |
| shortstop for the New York Yankees. | | | | injuries. Bottle rockets are the most dangerous |
| One July 4th, after a winning game, the boy's father | | | | because they fly erratically, causing bystander injuries. |
| celebrates by grilling hamburgers and hot dogs at a | | | | The typical fireworks victim is young. Children 15 |
| backyard party. Later, it is time for fireworks. | | | | years old or younger account for 50 percent of |
| The father, who illegally purchased Roman candles, | | | | fireworks eye injuries in the United States. |
| bottle rockets and firecrackers, asks his children and | | | | For children under the age of 5, seemingly harmless |
| wife to stand 60 feet away, a distance he believes is | | | | sparklers account for one-third of all fireworks |
| safe. For a while, it is great fun and everybody | | | | injuries. Sparklers can burn at nearly 2,000 degrees |
| enjoys the exhilaration that comes from watching | | | | Fahrenheit. |
| and listening to the explosions. | | | | "A sparkler's intense heat can burn not only skin, but |
| Then things go terribly wrong. A bottle rocket shoots | | | | also the eyes," said Dr. McDonald. "I've treated |
| sideways, burning into his son's right eye. He is rushed | | | | several children who suffered corneal burns from |
| to the emergency room. | | | | sparklers. This type of ocular injury can lead to |
| In the years that follow, the boy endures painful eye | | | | corneal scars and permanent vision loss." |
| procedures but still cannot see well out of the injured | | | | The Academy urges observance of the following |
| and deformed eye. His dreams of playing Major | | | | safety tips: |
| League Baseball are over, and he suffers from | | | | • Never let children play with fireworks of |
| depression. | | | | any type. |
| A day never passes that his parents aren't consumed | | | | • View fireworks from a safe distance: at |
| by guilt about what happened. | | | | least 500 feet away, or up to a quarter of a mile for |
| Now imagine this incident playing out hundreds of | | | | best viewing. |
| times annually. | | | | • Respect safety barriers set up to allow |
| "This is an all-too-common story that happens every | | | | pyrotechnicians to do their jobs safely. |
| year in the United States," said Marguerite McDonald, | | | | • Leave the lighting of fireworks to trained |
| M.D., a clinical correspondent for the American | | | | professionals. |
| Academy of Ophthalmology-an organization that | | | | • Follow directives given by event ushers or |
| issues annual fireworks safety warnings. "These | | | | public-safety personnel. |
| tragedies can be avoided if families attend a | | | | • If you find unexploded fireworks remains, |
| professional public fireworks display instead of putting | | | | do not touch them. Immediately contact your local |
| on a home fireworks display." | | | | fire or police department. |
| According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety | | | | "Attending professional fireworks displays, instead of |
| Commission, more than 9,000 fireworks-related | | | | using fireworks at home, is a safe way to honor our |
| injuries happen each year. Of these, nearly half are | | | | tradition of independence and our hopes for a |
| head-related injuries, with nearly 30 percent of these | | | | healthy future," Dr. McDonald said. |
| injuries to the eyes. One-fourth of fireworks eye | | | | |