The 4th of July means barbeques, backyard parties, and fireworks. When it’s all said and done, it’s going to be a loud celebration. For anyone with normal hearing or someone who uses aids or other devices, it’s important for you to protect your ears from unnecessary damage. For an enjoyable celebration, keep the following tips in mind.
Ear Plugs
Protect yourself by using ear plugs. They’re an easy and cost-effective solution that can be found in a number of grocery or pharmacy stores. Ear plugs muffle the loud sounds from fireworks by dampening the volume while still allowing you to enjoy the show.
Regardless of the length of fireworks display, its noisy side effects can be damaging, especially if you are too close. You want to protect yourself and have fun, and ear plugs are an excellent way to do that. Look for foam or silicone ones at your local drugstore. Ensure you buy a pair that fits properly to get the most use out of them. They should fit snugly to the ear canal. You also can wear over-the-counter head phones to protect your hearing. These are available at most pharmacies, too.
It can be tempting to get up close to see the fireworks in all their glory. If you can safely do this, be sure to protect your ears first.
Keep Your Distance
No matter how excited or awe-struck you may find yourself, there’s no need to get too close to fireworks. To protect your ears (and eyes), stand farther back. You’ll still get to watch the fireworks explode without causing unnecessary damage. The more space you can put between yourself and the fireworks, the better.
If you’re attending any loud festivals, avoid standing too close to speakers. You’ll hear the band even while keeping a safe distance. Remember to maintain that healthy gap from fireworks, firecrackers, and loud speakers at any barbeque or party you attend. You’ll still get to enjoy the sound, but with less damage to your ears.
Hearing protection is a great measure to take, but combining this strategy with additional tactics enhances the benefit and safety for your ears.
Other Tips for Full Enjoyment
If you are especially sensitive to loud sounds, plenty of small tips exist that you can take with you over the 4th of July. Consider giving yourself a break at some points during a celebration. If the fireworks show is long, think about stepping inside briefly to reduce noise even further. You can always come back out, and you’ll find you even appreciate the short break from the noise.
For any loud events or noisier parts of your evening, you may not want hearing aids left on. You could turn them off during any fireworks shows. If you’d rather leave them on, that’s fine as long as you are comfortable with the sound. Most advanced hearing aid technologies fit appropriately will not exceed the maximum power output if this has been pre-set but most hearing aids never become earplugs and cannot stop loud sound.
It’s important to keep the noise level at a healthy decibel range to avoid further damage, and exposure to excessively loud noise damages your hearing. Know how loud is too loud. Any sound that reaches 85 decibels or higher has the possibility of damaging your ears at close range. Keep the above tips in mind to avoid this situation where possible and still have fun.
For information on custom hearing protection for hunting, musicians or swimming, book an appointment with Associated Audiologists today.
