![\"Man](\"https:\/\/decibelhearing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/man-with-fireworks-769525-256x256.jpg\" "\\"Safety")
<\/h2>\nIf you\u2019ve lived in the Las Angeles area for the past few years, you probably have noticed that people like to get a jump on Fourth of July celebrations a little early. But if it seems like firework shows have arrived earlier and more intensely this year, you\u2019re not imagining it.<\/p>\n
<\/h2>\nA petition has been circulating since the end of June calling on police to enforce laws restricting illegal firework use.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the Silverlake\/Los Feliz\/Echo Park neighborhoods of Los Angeles, illegal fireworks are constantly going off, and our veterans and animals suffer for months on end because of it,\u201d the petition read<\/a>.<\/p>\n Similar complaints have been made across the nation; New York City got 80 times the number of illegal firework complaints in the first half of June than it did during the same timeframe a year ago.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s a lot of people who have been pent-up and need to blow off steam,\u201d one resident told the New York Times<\/em>. \u201cBut it\u2019s just adding a whole other layer of anxiety.\u201d<\/p>\n There are a number of theories about why this year is different. One is that the coronavirus lockdown has made people restless. Another is that cancelled firework shows have motivated people to go out and purchase their own. Most likely, many factors are contributing.<\/p>\n Fireworks are dangerous for a number of reasons, which is why most cities, counties and states have unique regulations about what fireworks can and cannot be used. In addition to risks to persons and properties, firework shows can have a devastating impact on your hearing.<\/p>\n Within the inner ear are tiny hair cells called stereocilia, which convert soundwaves into energy that the brain interprets as sound. When these hairs are damaged by loud sounds, they do not regenerate. According to OSHA, any sound over 85 dB can cause hearing damage over time \u2013 yet fireworks at close range can reach levels between 150 and 175 dB.<\/p>\nThe Impact on Your Hearing<\/h2>\n
How to Watch Fireworks Safely<\/h2>\n