(NAPSI)—Fireworks injuries cause approximately 10,000 visits to the emergency room each year, according to data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission—but you and yours don’t have to be among them.

Children are the most common victims of fireworks accidents, with those 15 years old or younger accounting for half of all fireworks eye injuries in the United States. For children under the age of 5, seemingly innocent sparklers account for one-third of all fireworks injuries. Sparklers can burn at nearly 2,000° F, which is hot enough to cause a third-degree burn.

“Too many celebrations are ruined because a child has to be rushed to the emergency room after a fireworks accident,” said Victor Gonzalez, M.D., president of the Texas Ophthalmological Association (TOA). “Potentially blinding injuries can be avoided if families attend a professional public fireworks display instead of putting on a home fireworks _display.”

Roberto Diaz-Rohena, M.D., recalled treating a 4-year-old boy who lost an eye due to a rocket-induced ruptured globe. “The sad part was that the dad asked the young boy to pick up the rocket from the floor when it didn’t shoot into the air. It did when the boy picked up the rocket—right into his eye. I’ll never forget the dad’s guilt-driven howling.”

Fireworks are not toys for children. “Be careful because life can change in an instant,” said Evelyn Paysse, M.D., of Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston. “I treated a little girl last year who had a bottle rocket blow up in her face. The child suffered a severe eye injury and one eye is now legally blind.”

“Among the most serious injuries are abrupt trauma to the eye from bottle rockets,” explained Dr. Gonzalez. The rockets fly erratically, often injuring bystanders. Injuries from bottle rockets can include eyelid lacerations, corneal abrasions, traumatic cataract, retinal detachment, optic nerve damage, rupture of the eyeball, eye muscle damage and complete blindness.

Just because you’re not lighting or throwing it doesn’t mean you’re out of the firing line. An international study of fireworks-related eye injuries showed that half of those hurt were bystanders. The researchers also found that one in six of these injuries caused severe vision loss.

For safe and healthy celebrations, consider these tips from the experts at the TOA:

•           Never let children play with fireworks of any type.

•           View fireworks from a safe distance: at least 500 feet away or up to a quarter of a mile for best viewing.

•           Leave the lighting of fireworks to trained professionals.

•           If you find unexploded fireworks remains, do not touch them. Immediately contact the fire or police department.

•           If you get an eye injury from fireworks, seek medical help immediately.

The TOA is a professional association composed of eye M.D.s in the state of Texas whose mission is to promote and advance the science and art of medicine appertaining to the eye. Learn more, including where to find eye doctors nearby, at www.TexasEyes.org.

On the Net:North American Precis Syndicate, Inc.(NAPSI)