The kids are out of school, the weather is hot and the outdoor grills are ready, which can only mean one thing, it’s summer in Southwest Florida! It’s time for boating, biking, and celebrating all that summer has to offer, including our nation’s freedom. And what better way to celebrate Independence Day than with fireworks. We, like you, relish this exciting time of year, but we want to make sure you are celebrating safely. Did you know that the eye ranks among the body parts most injured by fireworks? We want you to have fun this fourth of July and be safe.
Here are Dr. Frantz’s top 5 eye safety tips this Independence Day:
1. Wear Safety Eye Wear.
Always make sure to wear protective eye wear when you are in contact with fireworks.
2. Maintain a safe distance from fireworks.
Most fireworks displays recommend that you view the show about 500 feet or the length of one and a half football fields.
3.Leave it to the professionals!
When it comes to advanced pyrotechnics let a trained professional handle the hot stuff.
4. Don’t let the kids play with fireworks, even sparklers!
Did you know that sparklers burn 1,000 degrees hotter than the boiling point of water? Imagine how hot the professional-grade explosives are, which is just another reason to leave the professional-grade explosives to the professionals.
5.Be careful!
1 in 6 fireworks related eye injuries results in permanent vision loss or blindness.
If you do experience any pain, redness, decreased vision, light sensitivity or any other suspected eye injury after watching a fireworks display, call our office at 239.418.0999 to be seen at one of our five locations throughout Southwest Florida.