The festival of Lights-Diwali is here, and the atmosphere is so charged up with the festive mood. Diwali is
one of the biggest festivals celebrated with great enthusiasm and happiness in
India. The festival is celebrated for five consecutive days, where the third day
is celebrated as the main Diwali festival. Different colorful varieties of fireworks are always associated
with this festival and they are a tradition for many families.
Unfortunately, injuries from fireworks are another tradition that often seems
to follow when kids are allowed to play with fireworks.
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Magnitude of the problem
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Firecracker-related injuries have
been identified as one of the more important causes of burns and these types
of blast injuries result in hundreds to thousands of damages annually. Most
of the victims are children aged 14 and below, who suffer from burns on the
face, arms, and hands. Medical attention is most often needed; from simple
cleaning of the wound to suturing and even to surgery. In some cases,
amputation is warranted. Deaths have also been reported.
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There
are hundreds of deaths every year from firecracker injuries
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Thousands
of people are treated in emergency rooms
for injuries associated with fireworks
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Almost
half of the injuries are to children under age 15
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Firecrackers,
rockets and sparklers cause the most injuries,
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Burns
are the most common injuries from fireworks.
In regards to
fireworks injuries, the hands (40%), eyes (20%), and head and face (20%) are
the body areas most often involved. Half of those who receive injuries are
simply bystanders. Children, who are unsupervised, are 11 times more likely to
receive fireworks injuries.
Keeping this in
mind, the hand surgeons at the Hand Surgery Clinics are committed to providing the information you need to
create a safer environment when using fireworks this Diwali, because doctors
have the main role of educating parents about the risks, causes, prevention and
first aid of burn injuries. Parents are responsible for strictly prohibiting
children from picking up failed firecrackers and handling lit firecrackers,
sparklers and rockets.
Here
are a few tips for prevention of firecracker injuries:
- Never
use illegal/ counterfeit/unbranded fireworks.
- Keep
sparklers away from children. A lit sparkler may reach a temperature of
2,000 degrees. When using sparklers put them in the ground. Don’t hold or
run around with them.
- Keep
everybody—especially children and pets—out of range before lighting
fireworks.
- When
setting off fireworks, keep a bucket of water and a running hose nearby.
- Only
ignite one firework at a time.
- Never
attempt to relight a “dud”. If a firework fails to ignite, wait 15 minutes
then place it in a bucket of water.
- Soak
spent fireworks in a bucket of water before disposing of them in an
outdoor trash can.
- Do
light firecrackers outdoors only, as they are potential fire hazards.
- Do
not hold a firecracker while lighting it.
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But accidents
do happen and sometimes, an injury still occurs despite all your care. Here
are some things you can do if it happens:
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For minor burns caused by
firecrackers, let cool water run over the affected area. Do not apply
ointments or creams, since these may hold in heat and cause further damage.
Cover the injured area with a clean, dry cloth or bandage. Seek medical
attention immediately when an area larger than the size of the palm is
affected, when the burn extends beyond the skin, or when the eyes are
involved.
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If
a body part like a finger or a hand is directly hit by an exploding
firecracker, cover the affected part with a clean cloth, try to stop the
bleeding by putting pressure on it, and immediately bring the patient to the Hospital
Emergency Room.
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Ingestion
of firecrackers and/or its powder warrants immediate medical attention.
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The festival
season can only be merry when it is accident free. Each of us can do
something to avoid experiencing tragic moments especially during the most
wonderful time of the year. Let us not give in to the temptation and
potential hazards of the bright lights and frightening sounds of these
firecrackers. Let us all enjoy a truly merry and blessed Diwali and a
wonderful, promising New Year.
Come; let
us Join Hands to put Safety First.
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