4th Of July Fireworks Can Be A PTSD Trigger For MD Military Veterans

MARYLAND — Independence Day fireworks may be one of the most popular ways to celebrate the holiday, but it can be a trigger for Maryland veterans with PTSD, mental health professionals have said.

In Maryland, most fireworks — including bottle rockets, firecrackers, Roman candles, fire balloons, and signal lights — are illegal for consumers. Only gold-labeled sparklers, novelty items — such as party poppers, snap pops, and snakes — and ground-based sparkler devices are allowed in Maryland, says the state fire marshal's office.

As you celebrate, keep this in mind:

The loud, unexpected noises from fireworks can trigger memories of incoming fire, explosions and other combat situations for veterans who have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.

The exact number of veterans diagnosed with PTSD varies according to the war or conflict they fought in, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The VA estimates that in a given year, 11 to 20 percent of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) and 12 percent of Gulf War veterans will have an episode of PTSD. The agency estimates 30 percent of Vietnam War veterans have had PTSD at some point in their lifetime.

In total, that’s tens of millions of Americans whose symptoms fit the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Those include nightmares, flashbacks, intrusive trauma memories and “hyperarousal symptoms” — a range of symptoms from irritability or aggression to risky or destructive behavior.

• Related: 4th Of July Fireworks Safety: How To Avoid Blowing Off Your Finger

Any loud, unexpected boom can trigger a soldier’s PTSD, but nighttime fireworks are particularly problematic, according to Leah Blain, a clinical psychologist and director of the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at the University of Pennsylvania.

On top of other stresses, “nightly occurrences of these really triggering stimuli [and] unexpected sounds” can put some veterans in a crisis situation, Blain wrote in a post for Penn Medicine News.

“So we have a loud, unexpected noise, often under the cover of darkness. If we think about what a combat scenario looks like, you're expecting incoming fire and explosions that you have to be on guard for, that are often happening at night,” she wrote. “And fireworks serve as a very significant reminder of these experiences, PTSD or no. So this really does impact people. It really disrupts sleep. It increases stress. I would say it is a pretty significant stressor for people.”

What You Can Do

Short of canceling their backyard fireworks displays, there are things Maryland residents can do to make veterans in their neighborhoods more comfortable.

If you’ve invited a veteran to your 4th of July party, ask them if they’re OK if the celebration includes fireworks. When they know to expect it, veterans with PTSD can employ a variety of coping techniques — or completely remove themselves from the situation. Some states, including Michigan and Minnesota, offer fireworks-free camping to veterans at state parks.

“What you don’t want to do is start shooting off fireworks before asking,” Dr. Ron Samarian, a psychiatrist at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan, wrote in a blog post.

“If a combat veteran is diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, the noise of fireworks can elicit a startle reaction from them because it reminds them of bombs, guns and other explosives,” Samarian said in the blog post. “The sound can put the veteran right back into the combat situation.

“To frame it in a pleasant way, it’s like if you smell an apple and you remember going to the orchard as a child. Only they’re flashing back to a traumatic combat situation.”

If you’re aware of a veteran who lives in the neighborhood, move the noise as far away from that person’s home as possible, and let them know ahead of time what to expect, the VA advised. Another idea: Celebrate with sparklers instead of loud fireworks.

More Resources

Maryland's Department of Veterans Affairs has resources for veterans.

If you or someone you know is struggling with PTSD, you can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline at 800-662-4357.

If you’re experiencing suicidal thoughts during your PTSD episodes, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. Beginning July 16, a new, three-digit code — 988 — will be available nationwide

When people call, text or chat 988, they will be connected with trained counselors who are part of the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network. These trained counselors will listen, understand how their problems are affecting them, provide support and connect them to resources if necessary.