Nassau County residents have been suffering an increasingly egregious assault on their basic rights, at least those who are unfortunate enough to have neighbors who frequently set off extremely loud fireworks.
It may not be well known, but there are several medical conditions that are negatively impacted by loud noises. They include chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, IBS, misophonia, hyperacusis... not to mention the effects of acute stressors on people with heart conditions. A sudden unexpected blast can cause a "fight or flight" response, which has the potential to cause a heart attack.
For those with sensory issues, like autism, fireworks can cause a sensory overload meltdown. Then there's PTSD. How about a little consideration for our veterans and anyone else who may be suffering from this? Fireworks are truly a nightmare for many of them.
People suffering from the above conditions are not the only ones bothered by fireworks. It affects those with small children, pets (who can also suffer heart attacks from acute stressors like fireworks)... and those who just have an early wake-up call and, therefore, an early bedtime. These explosive demonstrations wreak havoc on our daily lives. We lose sleep, our children and pets are terrified, and our quality of life overall is negatively affected. All because a few inconsiderate people believe their desire to make things "go boom" supersedes our right to live in peace.
Fireworks of this sort are illegal in Nassau County, yet it doesn't seem to matter. Reports have been made to the local police district many, many times, but this problem has never been truly addressed. It is time for someone in charge to step in and prioritize this issue for the sake of the majority of law-abiding citizens in the area who do not wish to feel like they are in a war zone, having to endure deafening explosions that shake their houses, scare their children and pets, and generally distress them.
If you find yourself dreading your summers, rather than enjoying them, due to the illegal fireworks in your neighborhood, sign this petition to ask Ed Mangano to step in and take action to put an end to it.
