Veterans cope with PTSD with fireworks on the Fourth of July

the fourth of july brings much a lot of celebration, honoring the nation’s independence. but some of those celebrations have an unintended affect… on veterans.. krdo newschannel 13’s colleen sikora is live at a local fireworks stand.. and colleen.. fireworks enjoyed by many… might cause problems for some of our veterans. greg, when we think fourth of july safety, we often think of pets or fire… but veterans with p-t-s-d can make for a bad mix with fireworks. as one vet tells us, all that noise can transport them right back to the battlefield. these explosions are a reminder for shane herndon taking him back to serving in the army in afghanastan now six years ago. 3:38 there was actually a time where we had a mortar round that actually flew right over my head as i was jumping into the foxhole shane realized fireworks could be a problem for the first time while visiting disneyland with his family. 2:39 even though i knew it was going to happen, they always set off fireworks there, my wife said that said she was watching me and pretty much every explosion of the fireworks i was jumping. even now… the explosions on the fourth still trigger a reaction for shane. 4:20 even though i’m aware people are going to do fireworks just the noise kind of puts me back to that anxiety to feel what i felt when i was there in afghanastan. ptsdfireworks4:5 1 trauma therapists say that fireworks that will be set off here at memorial park and others that will be set off on the fourth of july will affect every veteran differently. 1:18 they could have nightmares, they could curl up in the fetal position and rock until they can calm themselves down. susan boudreaux is a trauma therapist… she says some veterans will even avoid fireworks altogether. 2:22 the fourth of july we celebrate our birthday and the people who kept us free, yet they kind of have to sit back and watch from the inside of their home for shane… he’s still able to participate in the fun. 7:51 i love fireworks he says however… 8:22 people need to understand there are those who have fought for this county that might be having a harder time, susan also says if you know a veteran and are out with them on the fourth… you can help by asking them how they’re doing, if things are getting too loud, or if they need to leave. as every veteran will react to the fireworks differently live in fountain.. cs krdo nc 13