Being mindful of your neighbors sensitive to sound and light before July 4th

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – For many of us, fireworks are as much a part of July 4th celebrations as hot dogs and family. However, for some, fireworks can be scary and cause trauma. For others, they are potentially deadly. Fireworks have been known to not only set off seizures but also mental collapses.  Ashley Casto, a PTSD Clinical Team Program Manager for the Lexington VA Health Care System says those lights and sounds can be a terrible trigger for veterans with PTSD.

“When they are hearing and seeing fireworks their brain is telling them they’re in danger even though consciously they’re aware its fireworks..Their brain is telling them no..This is combat again,” says Casto.

Jeremy Harrell is a retired veteran who served in Iraq. He’s also the founder and CEO of veterans club incorporated. The non-profit helps veterans struggling with suicide, homelessness as well as PTSD. He tells ABC 36 that this is something he faces daily.

“It just really takes you back to that place. The place that you worked really hard to get out of your mind because there’s not a lot of good there. It brings back some really tough memories,” says Harrell.

According to community members, its not just veterans that can experience triggers from Fireworks. 26 year old Charles Downs suffers from seizures caused by epilepsy. His mother Terese Baker says downs has experienced dozens of seizures In the past, Downs has had brain surgery to try to control them. Baker says medications he’s been given over the years hasn’t helped his severe sensitivity to light and sound.

“He can go into one seizure and have five in one..Five different seizures in one,” explains Baker.

Baker says she’s seen his seizures last up to 3 hours. What’s most frightening for her is that downs could die from having one.

“They call it sudden death and epilepsy..The heart will stop..Charles heart has stopped several times,” explains Baker.

Downs and Harrell are not asking people to not enjoy the holiday, but just be mindful of those around them when setting off fireworks.

“And maybe not do them all night long and late hours of the night. This is just consideration for all involved,” says Harrell.

The Lexington VA Health Care System also advises people to not set off fireworks when its not expected, for example during the middle of the day or the days following July 4th.