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Show Fireworks' endangers eyesight An estimated 8,028 Americans were treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries from fireworks last year -almost one-third more than the total reported the previous year. As the Fourth of July approaches, the Utah Society to Prevent Blindness warns all Utah residents that all fireworks endanger en-danger life and limb particularly eyesight! Nearly 15 percent of last year's reported injuries from pyrotechnics were to the eye. "Since there is no way to estimate how many were treated in doctors' offices, at home or by direct hospital admission, this figure is only a fraction of actual injuries," said Richard G. Taylor, Society President. "Punks, sparklers, firecrackers, bot-tlerockets, bot-tlerockets, M-80's these and all fireworks endanger the eyes. They may seem harmless, but even sparklers burn at heat exceeding 1500'F," Mr. Taylor added. For many years the Society has urged urg-ed that fireworks be limited to licensed public displays. Although this is now law in 28 states, including Utah, bootleg fireworks are still sold regularly on street corners and in many stores. The Society directs its warning par-' ticularly to parents, since children are most often the victims of fireworks injuries. in-juries. "Those 19 and under suffered nearly two-thirds of the injuries last year," the Society President noted, adding ad-ding that "the victims are frequently innocent bystanders. Keep your children away from all fireworks and from anyone who uses them. They may look like fun to youngsters but fireworks are explosives that can cause injuries, even blindness. "Enjoy the holidays safely," Mr. Taylor stressed, "by enjoying the fireworks in public exhibitions." |