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Many of us cannot imagine welcoming the New Year without lighting up fireworks and firecrackers. Every year, the police call for caution when using these pyrotechnics, and we advise you on what to do if you get burned or injured as a result of improperly used firecrackers.
On New Year’s Eve, the number of burns and wounds increases
According to statistics, every year on New Year’s Eve in the European Union there are several hundred accidents resulting from the improper use of fireworks and firecrackers. Usually, the affected are men between 19 and 50 years of age. It is they who are most often the victims of burns and wounds.
As we read on the police website, we fire more fireworks on one New Year’s Eve than in the whole year. The services urge you to remember that fireworks and firecrackers are pyrotechnics. Before we “fire them”, we must make sure that they are not damaged, and read the instructions for use. It is also worth mentioning that the person firing the fireworks should be soberwhich is not easy on New Year’s Eve. We remind you that you are also not allowed to launch fireworks from the balcony.
What to do if you get burned or injured when trying to use firecrackers or fireworks?
First aid for burns with firecrackers – burns
Improperly firing fireworks or firecrackers may result in injuries to the arms or face. What to do if we witness or participate in such an event?
First, we must make sure that we are safe as rescuers. The injured person should be isolated from the place where the explosion took place – we do not know if damaged fireworks or firecrackers will explode again.
If the clothing of the injured person caught fire during the explosion, extinguish them as soon as possible. You can use a blanket, pour cold water over the material, and even knock the injured person to the ground and roll.
We do not extinguish our clothes with a fire extinguisher and do not take them off if they are stuck to the skin.
Then we evaluate the damage and, depending on how extensive it is, we proceed to the next steps. If the burn is severe, the material is stuck to the skin, and the injured shows symptoms of shock after thermal burn (sweating, pale, with a fast pulse and psychomotor agitation), we call an ambulance.
See also: What to do in case of burns?
If the burn is not serious, cool it down with cool water. We don’t use ice! We cool severe burns with clean cloth soaked in cool water. Extensive and very deep burns must not be poured directly with cold water.
Important! We do not grease the burned area with butter or any other fat. We also do not use creams, ointments or fatty milk. We also do not pierce the blisters that have formed on the skin as a result of burns.
While waiting for the arrival of the ambulance, do not leave the victim alone.
First aid for burns with firecrackers – injuries
You may injure yourself when a firecracker explodes. If a limb is bleeding heavily, try to place it above the level of the victim’s heart and try to stop the bleeding. We use sterile gauze and bandages for this. We do not use a tourniquet! We are waiting for the arrival of the ambulance with the victim. Important! We will not give the injured person any preparations orally.
If your eye is injured, flush your eye with cool, clean water. The casualty must be under the care of a doctor as soon as possible, as eye damage may result in blindness.
As a result of improper firing of the firecrackers, hearing damage may also occur due to a rupture of the eardrum. If this happens, the victim can be helped by putting sterile gauze in the ear. As with other injuries, prompt medical attention is required.
If we decide to light fireworks on New Year’s Eve, it is also worth taking a handy emergency kit – a first aid kit with sterile gauze and bandages. As they say, forewarned is always insured.
We encourage you to spend New Year’s Eve without firecrackers. It’s safer for us and our pets.
Also check:
- List of products that must never be mixed with alcohol
- Do this before you go out to the party. You’re not gonna have a hangover
- This combination causes a terrible hangover. Never do that
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