Fireworks are a fun tradition to celebrate the Fourth of July with a bang. But while thrilling to watch, fireworks can be major culprits of holiday mishaps.

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, in the United States alone, there are over 12,000 firework-related injuries annually. Approximately 2,400 of those are eye injuries, some of which result in a complete loss of vision.

It is incredibly important to your eye health and general well-being to be careful when dealing with them. While any commercial fireworks you purchase will have been tested for safety, remember that you are still dealing with very dangerous items. Here are some simple precautions for you to use in educating your loved ones on firework safety:

-Always use protective eyewear when handling fireworks

-If a firework is missing a fuse, looks damaged, or has gotten wet, do not light it

-Never try to build your own fireworks. Tampering with the packaging or trying to combine fireworks is extremely dangerous

-Always keep a bucket of water around when lighting fireworks. If you’re using sparklers, put them in the water bucket once you’re done

-Never aim a firework at another person

-Before you light a firework, read the label and safety instructions. It will tell you if anything else needs to be removed and what direction it should face

-Make sure you are away from any buildings, cars, or combustible material when lighting fireworks

-If you light a firework and it doesn’t go off, do not try to relight it. It could still go off several minutes after it’s been lit. Wait 15-20 minutes, and then pour water over it to be safe

-If you get an eye injury from fireworks, seek medical help immediately

The safest way to enjoy the view is to leave lighting the night sky up to the professionals and focus on protecting your family’s health and safety. Enjoy the holiday!