Fireworks safety tips and free glasses [Video]

The Fourth of July brings lots of opportunities for fun, but it can also pose dangers, particularly from fireworks injuries.

In response, area health care providers are reminding residents of some simple ways to prevent such injuries. Children’s Nebraska and Eye on July, a nonprofit started by Nebraska Medicine’s Dr. Rao Chundury and his family, also are offering free protective eye glasses.

According to a report by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, approximately 9,700 people were treated in emergency rooms for fireworks injuries in 2023. An estimated 19% of those injuries involved eyes, and the majority of all fireworks injuries are to bystanders.

“Severe injuries related to fireworks are becoming more common every year and can easily be prevented,” Dr. Paul Rychwalski, chief of ophthalmology at Children’s Nebraska, said …