June 15, 2001 | ||
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WHAT: |
| The Fourth of July is prime fireworks season. According to the United States Eye Injury Registry, 12,000 people are treated in emergency departments for fireworks injuries every year. Eighty percent of eye injuries from fireworks happen during the July 4th holiday and bystanders are more likely to be injured than those operating fireworks. Almost half of those injured are children or teens. |
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WHO: |
| Dr. Martin Cogen, UAB pediatric ophthalmologist, and Drs. Luke White and John Mason, retinal surgeons at the Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital at UAB, are available for interviews on fireworks safety. Dr. Doug Witherspoon, UAB ophthalmologist, is executive vice president of the United States Eye Injury Registry. |
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Beware of Rockets Red Glare
The Fourth of July is prime fireworks season. According to the United States Eye Injury Registry, 12,000 people are treated in emergency departments for fireworks injuries every year.