LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Fourth of July fireworks are an American tradition, but they’re not entirely harmless. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, more and more people visit emergency rooms every year for injuries caused by fireworks. But even professional fireworks shows can pose long-term health risks in unexpected ways.
If you’re planning a fireworks display in your backyard, keep in mind that approximately 10,000 people were treated for fireworks-related injuries last year alone.
Doctors recommend wearing pants, closed-toed shoes and eye protection.
Explosive and projectile fireworks are illegal in California, but even those deemed “safe and non-hazardous,” like fountains, sparklers, and pinwheels, should be handled with care. Sparklers can burn up to 2,000 degrees Celsius, hot enough to melt metal.
Light one firework at a time and designate one person to set off the fireworks.
“First of all, find out who is lighting the fireworks. You know, one of the things we recommend is to not involve children,” said Dr. Alan Capin, an emergency medicine physician at the Cleveland Clinic.
Stay on flat concrete or paved surfaces. Grass is flammable. If your firework does not go off, never relight it as it may cause a delay. Soak it in water.
Additionally, if you have a minor burn, Capin advises avoiding using ice to relieve pain.
“Adding ice is not a good idea because ice is the enemy. As soon as you apply ice it reduces blood flow to the area, which can actually increase pain and make the burn more severe,” he said.
Fire officials encourage people to attend organized professional shows rather than risk injury. But people often forget the dangers of high-decibel noise. Dr. Courtney Voelker, a neuro-otologist at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute, says just one loud sound can be enough to cause hearing loss and tinnitus. She recommends downloading a decibel-reading app and bringing ear protection.
“Get some commercial foam earplugs, and when the decibel meter goes above 85, hand them out,” Volker said.
A study from the University of California, Irvine found that fireworks can cause spikes in particulate matter similar to that found in wildfire smoke, which has been linked to respiratory and cardiac illnesses, but more research is needed to determine how distance and duration of exposure affect risk.
In addition to the air pollution, Los Angeles County is seeing its highest number of coronavirus cases this year, averaging more than 200 per week, so researchers say people should bring earplugs to fireworks shows, as well as an N-95 mask if they’re prone to respiratory illnesses.
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