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 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 See how fireworks and other loud noises measure up.

See the rest here:
Enjoy Fireworks – Save Your Ears