Veterans ask neighbors to ‘be courteous’ with fireworks over Fourth of July holiday

Unexpected fireworks right outside your window can be startling for anyone. For veterans coping with post traumatic stress disorder, the sudden, loud blasts can trigger flashbacks, anxiety or worse.

“Once veterans get in that state, it’s very hard to calm them down,” said Shawn J. Gourley, executive director and co-founder of the nonprofit Military with PTSD.

 In preparation for July 4, Military with PTSD is offering free yard signs to veterans around the country that read, “Veteran lives here. Please be courteous with fireworks.”

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs said it’s important for the families of veterans with PTSD to have a plan when their veteran will interact with fireworks. That’s hard to do when the noises go off without warning, Gourley said. The problem is not the holiday itself, when veterans are prepared for the noises, but the week or so leading up to July 4.

“By the Fourth [of July], he’s just a raw bundle of nerves,” she said of veterans with PTSD.

It’s a problem that veterans may have had trouble discussing with neighbors in the past, Gourley said. Although the sign doesn’t solve all the problems, it opens up a dialogue on the subject.

“This sign is not a solution at all,” she said. “It’s not going to fix their PTSD, but it is going to make people aware.”

http://www.militarywithptsd.org/store/…