Yard signs raise awareness about fireworks, combat PTSD

Estimated read time: Less than a minute

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — A southern Indiana couple is raising awareness about how fireworks can affect military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Their Evansville-based nonprofit group — Military with PTSD — has distributed thousands of yard signs to people around the country. The signs say: "A combat veteran lives here. Please be courteous with your fireworks."

Explosions on the Fourth of July can trigger anxiety, panic and flashbacks in veterans with PTSD. Evansville Army veteran Scott Thompson says he tries to stay indoors to avoid the noise, which can remind him of incoming gunfire.

Justin and Shawn Gourley are the founders of the group distributing the yard signs. She tells the Evansville Courier & Press (http://bit.ly/29EXDxd) they're flabbergasted by the demand for the signs. The group mailed 8,000 signs this year.

___

Information from: Evansville Courier & Press, http://www.courierpress.com