Despite the name, these more colorful fireworks aren’t entirely silent, but they are significantly quieter, registering at far below the typical 150-170 decibels of the loud fireworks, which can cause hearing damage.įor some veterans, or for victims of gun violence, the sudden booms and pops of loud exploding fireworks can trigger a PTSD episode, recalling the “duck and cover” response to unpredictable danger and raising anxiety during the holiday. The most explosive fireworks, the ones with the biggest booms, have little color because the force can shatter the pellets that carry the little “stars” that emit signature colors of green, red, and blue. These fireworks actually display the most stunning colors, more so than big explosions. In fact, they have been around for a long time as part of regular fireworks displays, including the “comet display” that shoots into the air with a long sparking tail, or the “flying fish” whose scattering sparkles swim out from a silent boom like little tadpoles. “ Silent” fireworks aren’t a new invention. Yet there is an easy way to change that by lowering the impact of the loud, sudden, unpredictable, percussive noises that come with fireworks.
Veterans with PTSD, children on the autism spectrum, survivors of gun violence, pets, and even wildlife and farm animals routinely suffer on July 4th. It shouldn’t be hard to understand how fireworks’ loud, unpredictable bangs and whizzing explosions that cause such delight could also have negative effects on so many. The trade-off in scale is a welcome one for the many for whom these celebrations often bring with them trauma, fear, and even lingering effects of hearing loss. While these silent fireworks are stunning, they lack the big explosive power that drives mega-displays high into the air for viewing by thousands. “Silent” fireworks can deliver the same cascading colors but without the daunting decibels and startling explosions that usually erupt in the night sky. But for some, fireworks are no fun, and they are more than a nuisance disturbing their sleep they are a potential source of trauma. Even though many municipalities across the nation have canceled big city-wide celebrations due to the need for social-distancing, we can still expect smaller celebrations where families and friends set off fireworks in their streets or backyards to mark the occasion. In the first half of June in N.Y.C., for example, the city received 80 times the number of fireworks complaints this year than last. After months of being cooped up due to the pandemic, and in the context of ongoing struggles for racial justice, more residents than usual are starting this year’s festivities early, resulting in both exuberant fun and noise complaints by neighbors. The Fourth of July is coming, and the fireworks have already begun.
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