Celebrate Fourth of July Safely: Here Are Some Safety Tips To Keep in Mind

Fireworks Go Off Across Los Angeles On Fourth Of July — LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 04: In an aerial view, large illegal fireworks are set off late into the night, long after the professional Independence Day shows have ended, on July 4, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. Though local fireworks complaints to police have reportedly decreased by about half this year, and by more than 80 percent since 2022, large sections of Los Angeles are home to people who come from cultures where personal fireworks are embraced. Those aerial explosives have grown bigger with time. David McNew/Getty Images

Fourth of July, fun should never come at the expense of safety.

Some health officials and experts have released some safety tips during this festive holiday.

Fourth of July Safety Tips

Eye Protection

Ophthalmologist Dr. Kelly Mitchell from the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at TTUHSC noted that each year, 9,100 trips to the emergency room that are firework-injury-related happen.

Around 15% of such injuries are eye-related. Moreover, a huge majority takes place in the weeks right before and after the festive Fourth of July. Children are involved in roughly 30% of cases.

To keep the eyes protected, using eye protection is necessary. Moreover, the location of the fireworks lighting should also have an available water supply. The fireworks should also not be close to vehicles, houses, woodpiles, or flammable liquids.

Individuals who experience eye injuries should be brought to the emergency room.

Ear Protection

Though fireworks can be a visual feat, they are incredibly loud. They can also lead to pain and even hearing damage.

According to Leigh Ann Reel, the director of the Center of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research at the TTUHSC, noise-induced hearing loss can result from prolonged or moderate exposure to noise that exceeds 85 decibels. Fireworks greatly exceed this level, with sounds going up to 140 to 160 decibels.

The director advises watching fireworks from a distance of at least 500 feet. If a person is closer than this distance, hearing protection is necessary, especially for the individual handling the fireworks.

Child and infant safety should also be considered. Infants should not be exposed to fireworks in any situation.

Since the sound is strengthened in small spaces, such as the tiny ear canals of infants, they have a higher risk of hearing damage compared to adolescents and adults.

Heat Safety

Excessive sun exposure could lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Children are also particularly susceptible to overheating.

To stay safe amidst the heat during Fourth of July festivities, the American Red Cross recommends slowing down or limiting activities outdoors and staying hydrated.

Children should have much water supply and be dressed in loose, lightweight, and light-colored clothes. If they exhibit signs of overheating, they should be brought inside.

Firework Safety

Other aspects of firework safety should be kept in mind.

For people who are celebrating the Fourth of July in areas where it is legal to buy and use consumer fireworks, they should never allow children to handle fireworks.

Moreover, individuals should also never use fireworks if they have taken either drugs or alcohol. They must also never re-light fireworks that appear to malfunction.

It is also crucial to keep a nearby water supply when lighting fireworks this Fourth of July in order to extinguish sparks that don't stop or that grow to become full-blown fires.