Summer is a fun time. We have barbecues, go swimming, and watch fireworks light up the sky. But did you know that fireworks hurt thousands of people every year?

In 2023, nearly 10,000 people in the United States were seriously injured by fireworks. Eight people died. That’s not just from big fireworks — even small ones like sparklers and firecrackers can cause serious injuries, especially to your eyes.

How Fireworks Can Hurt Your Eyes

Your eyes are very delicate. Fireworks can:

• Burn them
• Hit them hard and cause bruising or bleeding
• Rupture them

Sometimes, these injuries are so bad that they cause blindness.

Sparklers Are Not Safe Toys

Sparklers may look harmless, but they are not safe. They burn hotter than 2,000 degrees — that’s hot enough to melt metal! Even just one spark can hurt your eye. 700 people were hurt by sparklers last year. One person even died.

Kids and Teens Get Hurt the Most

Children under 15 years old make up about 1 out of every 3 injuries.

Teens aged 15 to 19 are the most likely to go to the hospital.

Most of these injuries happen around the Fourth of July.

What to Do if Someone Gets Hurt

If a firework hurts someone’s eye, it’s an emergency. Call 911 or go to the emergency room right away.

While you wait for help:

• Do not rub the eye.
• Do not rinse the eye with water.
• Do not put pressure on the eye.
• Do not try to take anything out of the eye.
• Do not put ointments or give pain medicine unless a doctor says it’s okay.

(Adapted from the American Academy of Ophthalmology)