By nature, children are adventurous and experimental. Whether it’s jumping off the diving board or skipping rocks across a creek, summertime outdoor activities highlight this innate curiosity and thrill-seeking spirit. Supervision is key to helping them strike a balance between exploration and safety. Fireworks are no exception.

Technically, there is no safe way for nonprofessionals to use fireworks. Enjoying professional displays is the best advice. However, we all know that’s not going to keep kids (or their parents) away entirely—the American Pyrotechnics Association reports that consumers spent $755 million on fireworks for their own use at home in 2015, up significantly from $695 million the previous year.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, fireworks are involved in thousands of injuries each year. In 2014 (the latest year for which data is available), fireworks devices were involved in an estimated 10,500 injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms. And an estimated 7,000 injuries were treated in hospital emergency rooms around the Fourth of July.

Data from the U.S. Eye Injury Registry shows that fireworks more often injure bystanders than the operators themselves. Contusions, lacerations and foreign bodies were the most common injuries to eyes. Dr. Paul Misischia, a medical ophthalmologist with McFarland Eye Centers, has treated a number of patients for such injuries when he’s been on call during the Fourth of July.

“I’ve most commonly seen injuries from bottle rockets,” says Dr. Misischia. “The tiny pieces of wood can get lodged in the eye. Often times the victims get too close, or the rocket goes the wrong way.”

In the most severe cases, fireworks can rupture the globe of the eye, cause chemical and thermal burns, corneal abrasions and retinal detachment—all of which can permanently cause eye damage and affect vision.

“The greatest danger is loss of the eye, if it’s damaged too much,” Dr. Misischia says. “Then there’s loss of vision, retinal detachments and bleeding of the eye. Eyelid burns from a Roman candle, for example, can be very severe and lead to scarring, which can prevent the eyelids from closing properly.”

His professional recommendation, which he adheres to with his own family, is to attend a professional display. “We never used them at home,” he says. “We used the harmless confetti-filled poppers, but we never let them use fireworks.”

But, in recognition of the fact that some people are going to use them at home, he offers this advice: “If you’re going to do it, use eye protection. Wear the type of glasses you would wear if you are using a power saw or weed whacking. Also, all kids have to be supervised. You can’t just leave them with fireworks.”

If, in spite of these precautions, an injury does occur, Dr. Misischia says to seek immediate attention at the ER. “Don’t wait,” he emphasizes. “Don’t try putting pressure on it, or ice… Go directly to the ER. They usually have an ophthalmologist on call, if the ER doctor isn’t able to treat it.”

The American Academy of Ophthalmology echoes that advice and provides these additional tips:

  • Do not rub your eyes.
  • Do not rinse your eyes.
  • Do not apply pressure.
  • Do not remove any objects that are stuck in the eye.
  • Do not apply ointments or take any blood-thinning pain medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen.

Note that laws vary within Little Rock and central Arkansas regarding fireworks. Fireworks are illegal to possess or discharge within the city limits of Little Rock, North Little Rock and Jacksonville. Other municipalities in central Arkansas may allow fireworks on private property, but with limits such as only on specific days during specific hours. In other parts of Arkansas, certain fireworks are legal. If there's a burn ban in effect wherever you are, fireworks will definitely be forbidden. Consult your city ordinances to be sure.

Fiery Facts

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, fireworks devices were involved in an estimated 10,500 injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms in 2014.

  • Sparklers accounted for 1,400 injuries, firecrackers another 1,400, and bottle rockets were the cause of 100.
  • 19 percent, or 1,200, of those injuries were to the eyes.
  • Males accounted for 74 percent of fireworks injuries.
  • 40 percent of fireworks injuries were to children under age 15.
  • For children under 5 years old, sparklers accounted for the most injuries.