Enjoy Fireworks – Save Your Ears

Fourth of July is right around the corner, and that means fireworks! Like a kid, I look forward to the colorful starbursts streaming across the sky. I do, however, hate to rain on your Independence Day parade: as spectacular as they are, the booming sounds that accompany the sparkling visuals can really damage your ears. Noise-induced hearing loss (aka acoustic trauma ) is as real as your mama’s cherry pie. Once damaged, the sensitive hair cells of the inner ear never regenerate and can’t be repaired, creating permanent hearing loss here. For a point of reference, here are some common Summer sounds and their decibel (dB) levels: Rustling leaves: 10 decibels A whisper: 20 dB Humming of a fridge: 40 dB A conversation: 60 dB Busy street traffic: 70 dB Vacuum cleaner: 80 dB Lawn mower: 90

dB A large orchestra: 98 dB To see how fireworks and other loud noises measure up read more. Fireworks for spectators 800 feet away: 88 to 126 dB Fireworks for spectators 10 feet away: 155 dB Front row of a rock concert: 110 dB Military jet takeoff: 140 dB Motorcycles, firecrackers, small firearms: 120 to 150 dB Acoustic trauma is one of the main reasons many people sport hearing aids these days. To prevent this damage, enjoy the fireworks show from afar and use a pair of inexpensive foam ear plugs . They might not be the most fashionable accessory of the season, but I’d rather wear them for 20 minutes than hearing aids for the rest of my life.

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Enjoy Fireworks – Save Your Ears