Posted on December 17, 2001 at 1:46 p.m.

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Fireworks and champagne bottles can be a dangerous combination on New Year’s Eve. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says that fireworks injured 11,000 people in 2000. The Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital and UAB’s Department of Ophthalmology point out that every year, fireworks and flying champagne corks cause serious, blinding eye injuries. Fireworks are best left in the hands of professionals, say UAB ophthalmologists, but if you must use them at home, remember these safety tips.

• Always have an adult present.
  
  
• Never allow young children to play with fireworks, even sparklers. Sparklers can reach 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit, hot enough to melt gold.
  
  
• Never try to re-light fireworks that did not explode or ignite the first time.
  
  
• Keep a bucket of water or fire extinguisher present in case of fire.
  
  
• Light fireworks on a clean, flat surface away from the house or flammable materials.
  
  
• Read and follow all manufacturer's warnings and instructions.
  
  
• If there are no instructions or product labels, the item may have been made illegally and could be unsafe. Illegal fireworks, which are made without the quality control standards of legal products, are extremely unpredictable.
  
  
• In the event of eye injury, do not touch, rub or press on the injured eye. Seek immediate care from an ophthalmologist or hospital emergency room.
  
  
• Always light only one item at a time.
  
  
• Never throw fireworks at another person.
  
  
• Never carry fireworks in your pocket.
  
  
• Never shoot fireworks from metal or glass containers.
  
  
• Never experiment, modify, or attempt to make your own fireworks.
  
  

If your celebration includes champagne, sparkling wines or ciders, alcoholic or non-alcoholic, follow these suggestions from the American Academy of Ophthalmology on how to open the bottle safely.

• Keep the bottle cold. The cork on a warm bottle is more likely to pop unexpectedly.
  
  
• Hold the cork down with the palm of your hand while you untwist the wire hood.
  
  
• Point the bottle away from yourself and others.
  
  
• Place a towel over the top and tilt the bottle at a 45-degree angle. Slowly and firmly twist the cork to break the seal.
  
  
• Hold the bottle firmly with one hand at a 45-degree angle and slowly turn the cork with a slight upward pull with the other hand.
  
  
• Continue until the cork is almost out of the bottle’s neck.
  
  
• Counter the force of the cork by applying slight downward pressure just as the cork breaks free from the bottle.