Local firework bans may lower risk of vision-threatening injuries
A recent study conducted at a level 1 trauma center has shed light on the impact of local firework legislation on ocular trauma during the Independence Day holiday period. The study, spanning 8 years from 2016 to 2022, examined the association between firework bans and the prevalence of firework-related injuries.
The study involved 230 patients presenting with ocular trauma in the 2 weeks surrounding Independence Day. Among them, 94 patients sustained firework-related injuries, while 136 sustained non-firework-related injuries. The research found that the odds of firework-related ocular trauma were significantly higher among residents of areas where fireworks were legal compared to those where they were banned.
According to the findings, residents living in areas permitting fireworks faced double the odds of sustaining firework-related ocular trauma compared to those residing in regions with bans. Furthermore, the study highlighted that individuals under the age of 18 and male patients were at a higher risk of fireworks injuries.
The study also found that firework-related injuries were more likely to be vision-threatening compared to injuries not associated with fireworks. Approximately 57% of firework-related injuries were vision-threatening, compared to 40% of non-firework-related injuries.
Reference
Harrison L, Yee P, Sundararajan M, Ding L, Feng S. Local Firework Restrictions and Ocular Trauma. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2024;142(1):33-38. doi: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2023.5698. PMID: 38095891; PMCID: PMC10722385.
