Celebrate!!! 4th of July is a time for you to celebrate your independence and freedom to choose what you do and when you do it. Many families celebrate by spending time outdoors with water sports, golfing, grilling, and most of all fireworks!
I like to light up the sky as much as everyone else, but the eye hazards in such events are not lost on me. My Uncle lost his eye due to fireworks with friends in his 20’s, and while seeing someone “take their eye out” is cool when you are little, it is life changing for the individual. Recent fireworks even led a family member who knows how to handle fireworks and left it sitting for hours untouched to visual damage and reconstructive surgery.
4th of July Fireworks Safety Guidelines
If you do insist on lighting your own fireworks, please follow eye safety guidelines:
- Observe local laws
- Wear safety glasses
- Light fireworks outdoors, in a clear area away from flammable materials at a large viewing distance of 500 yards for rocketing fireworks
- Be sure other people are out of range before lighting fireworks
- Avoid any portion of your body directly over a firework while lighting
- Do not allow young children to follow you while you light fireworks and older children need close adult supervision
- Keep a bucket of water nearby for emergencies and for pouring on fireworks that fail to ignite or explode
- Do not try to relight or handle malfunctioning or “dud” fireworks and soak them with water to throw them away next day
If you are injured by a firework, seek medical care immediately. My personal experience is that fireworks are best enjoyed from a large distance where smoke and debris are not causing eye irritation. Numerous cities across Nebraska have beautiful distance viewing displays for the entire family. I am a fan of Seward’s festivities and can say they are well worth your time. Check out Seward’s festivities at www.visitnebraska.org and have a safe and fun day of FREEDOM!