FFireworks have been an American tradition since the first Independence Day. But they’re not exactly harmless fun. Emergency department visits for fireworks-related injuries have increased every year since 2007, according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Fireworks can also affect health in the long term, as they release contaminants that can affect air quality and, consequently, human health.
Here’s what you should know about the health risks of fireworks — and what you can do to protect yourself.
They can trigger respiratory problems
Fireworks lead to a spike in particulate matter, which is the same type of air pollution caused by smoke from forest fires. Furthermore, the brilliant colors spread across the night sky are created by a series of potentially toxic metals, says Terry Gordon, professor in the department of environmental medicine at NYU Langone Health. “There are a lot of different metals they use for colors that you shouldn’t breathe,” he says.
Researchers have long known that fine particles are associated with short- and long-term health problems, such as respiratory and heart diseases, low birth weight, neurological diseasesand even premature death. However, little research has focused on risks specifically related to fireworks, meaning scientists can only formulate hypotheses about how they might affect health. “By pure logic, due to the high concentrations of these particles and metals, they should have adverse health effects,” says Gordon. “But we’re not keeping up with it.” Interestingly, he adds, you’ve probably heard of someone coughing or developing a sore throat after a fireworks display. But more research is needed to determine the role that factors such as proximity and duration of exposure play in risk.
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In general, people with pre-existing conditions such as asthma and heart disease, as well as children and the elderly, should take precautions around fireworks. There are a variety of protective measures you can take, says Jun Wu, professor of environmental and occupational health at the University of California, Irvine’s public health program. (Wu researched fireworks-related particle spikes.) If fireworks are being set off nearby, close your windows and doors, she suggests. “The level of exposure you get depends on your activity levels—for example, whether you’re outdoors—and, if you’re indoors, how leaky your home is,” says Wu. “If you have to go out, use a [N95] mask would be good.
Fireworks increase the risk of injury
According to the CPSC, there have been 11 fireworks-related deaths in the US in 2021, as well as around 10,200 injuries. The majority (65%) involved men, and most occurred around the Fourth of July holiday. Fireworks can be deadly when mishandled, the agency stresses, but there is also another threat: in 2022, 43% of fireworks tested contained illegal components, such as fuses, that do not comply with the law. This can increase the likelihood of something going wrong.
Every year, Dr. Joshua Feinstein, an emergency room doctor at Memorial Hermann in Houston, treats patients who have been rushed to the hospital because of fireworks accidents at home. Many didn’t get the timing right and were too close to the explosion; alcohol is often involved, which means people may not be exercising common sense and their movements may be impaired. Often, children simply don’t understand the blast radius and get too close, says Feinstein. “Sometimes you have fireworks that don’t seem to go off – they’re considered a failure – but the problem is they’re not really a failure,” he adds. “They are taking a long time, so people approach them. Then, boom, they go off.” Between the more common The injuries are severe burns, facial trauma, fractures and lacerations to the hands that can lead to the loss of fingers and leg injuries.
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Feinstein warns against setting off fireworks at home. But if you’re determined to do it, make sure you have a bucket of water nearby for emergencies; pour over “duds” that don’t light. Set up in an area free from anything that could be flammable and only light one at a time. Afterwards, soak the used fireworks in water for a few hours before disposing of them.
And keep in mind that while they may seem harmless, sparklers are also dangerous. They burn around 2,000°F– hot enough to melt some metals – and can quickly ignite clothing. “You have to be very careful,” says Feinstein. “People consider them safer because they don’t explode,” but this ignores serious risks, especially among children. If someone is jumping while holding a diamond, for example, they could accidentally hit someone else with it; Even after the diamond is gone, the rod will be hot and could cause burns.
They can cause temporary hearing loss
The thunderous explosions that accompany fireworks displays can damage your ears– and the closer you are to them, the greater the risk. How the American Speech-Language Pathology Association points, you may develop noise-induced hearing loss, which is preventable but irreversible. Even a single strong explosion lasting less than a second can cause permanent damage.
Fortunately, there’s an easy solution: use earplugs or headphones that muffle the explosions. “There’s no reason to be ashamed,” says Feinstein. “It is very reasonable to use [protection].” Plus, as he points out, earplugs won’t harm your screen enjoyment. “You can feel the explosion and you can still hear it,” he says. “It’s not like you’re not hearing, and it will save your hearing in the long run.”
You can hurt your eyes
Eye injuries are responsible for 16% of fireworks-related incidents each year, according to the CPSC. If you’re setting them off at home and are too close, “everything that can go wrong with one eye can go wrong when a firework goes off,” says Dr. David Solá-Del Valle, an ophthalmologist at OSF HealthCare in Urbana, Illinois. . “You could have a detached retina. You may suffer an abrasion or burn to your cornea. You can have a ruptured eyeball, what we call an open blow injury, where the fireworks hit the eye and you need immediate surgery.”
Many of these injuries can lead to permanent vision loss. One of the worst accidents that Solá-Del Valle remembers involved a patient who had already lost one eye due to glaucoma – and, after a fireworks accident, lost the other. “This can be incredibly life-changing,” he says. “You have to be vigilant.”
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So what’s the best way to ensure your eyes stay intact? For starters, always view fireworks from at least 150 meters away, advises Solá-Del Valle. If you are triggering them, use eye protector like safety glasses or goggles, even if you consider yourself an expert. If something goes wrong, call 911 and instruct the injured person not to rub their eyes, rinse them with water, or apply pressure. “If something gets stuck in your eye, don’t take it out,” adds Solá-Del Valle. “You could end up doing more damage to the eye than the injury itself.” It is also important not to take any potential blood thinners, including aspirin or ibuprofen. He says he’s seen patients quickly swallow some to ease the pain — but the drugs cause even more bleeding inside the eye.
In general, Solá-Del Valle stresses, it’s best to leave the fireworks to professionals and keep a safe distance if you’re just a spectator. This can help ensure you enjoy viewing – rather than detracting from your healthy life.
This story originally appeared on Time.com read the full story
