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CHICAGO—An estimated 7,000 Americans spent part of their Fourth of July holiday in the emergency room in 2014 due to fireworks injuries, according to data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Out of that number, 19 percent of the injuries were to the eyes.

Contusions, lacerations and foreign bodies in the eyes were common eye injuries. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, approximately one-third of eye injuries from fireworks result in permanent blindness.

Additionally, children younger than 15 years old made up 35 percent of the estimated injuries in 2014 while children 5 to 9 years old had the highest estimated rate of emergency department-treated fireworks-related injuries.

In an effort to keep consumers safe during the Fourth of July holiday and beyond, Prevent Blindness supports the development of enforcement of bans on the importation, sale and use of all fireworks and sparklers, except those used in authorized public displays and by competent licensed operations, Prevent Blindness said in a statement.

“Independence Day should be spent celebrating our great country with family and friends, not in the emergency room,” said Hugh R. Parry, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness. “We want everyone to be safe by leaving the fireworks to the professionals.”

According to data from the United States Eye Injury Registry, the largest proportion of injured persons from fireworks were bystanders, not the person actually igniting the firework.

However, if an eye accident does happen to minimize damage to the eye don’t rub, rinse or apply pressure to the eye itself. Also, do not stop for medicine as over-the-counter pain relievers, instead go straight to the ER and do not apply ointment.

For more information on the dangers of fireworks, call Prevent Blindness at (800) 331-2020, or visit preventblindness.org/prevent-eye-injuries-fireworks.