Khaberni - A person may suffer burns or be exposed to serious injuries in the hand and fingers or the eye when lighting fireworks and firecrackers due to negligence or a problem in the fireworks themselves. So, what first aid is necessary in such accidents?
Burns
To answer this question, Professor Bernd Bötiger, a doctor at the German Red Cross, explained that first aid for burns involves cooling them with water for at least 20 minutes, taking care not to use water that is too cold, as this could cause a sharp drop in body temperature.
Afterward, the burn should be covered loosely, ensuring that the cover is sterile using a dressing, for example.
In the case of minor burns, one may not need to go directly to the hospital, while extreme caution is required in the case of major burns, as well as for injuries in children and infants; it is necessary to go to the hospital as quickly as possible to receive the necessary medical care.
Hand and Fingers
If the hand is injured and bleeding profusely, it is crucial to call an ambulance immediately, with the necessity to prevent the body from losing a large amount of blood. For this purpose, pressure should be applied to the bleeding site to stop it, using a piece of sterile cloth from the first aid kit. The injured person should elevate his hand or medics can assist him in doing so.
If the bleeding remains severe, a pressure dressing should be applied, wrapping a bandage around the wound two or three times to secure the dressing.
If the explosion of firecrackers results in a finger amputation or part of it, one must go to the hospital immediately. Besides stopping the bleeding, medics take care of the amputated part to increase the chances of reattaching the finger or part, by wrapping the amputated part as sterilely as possible in a piece of cloth.
If no dressing is available, one can use a clean cloth napkin or a pocket square from a suit, but care should be taken to avoid paper towels lest the fibers stick to the amputated part.
After that, the amputated part is placed in a plastic bag and sealed tightly, then this bag is placed inside another plastic bag filled with cold water and ice, if available. The amputated part should be immersed in water inside the inner bag to cool it.
Eye Injuries
Whether the injury is just a scratch on the cornea or a foreign object has settled in the eye socket, it is essential to head to the hospital urgently, with the necessity of bandaging both eyes to rest them and prevent movement.
Preventive Measures
To avoid accidents in the first place, the German Association of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery emphasizes the need for safe handling of fireworks and firecrackers by reading and following the instructions precisely.
Also, only certified fireworks should be used, which can be recognized by the (CE) mark on their packaging, while the use of homemade or modified fireworks and the like is strictly forbidden; they may explode before the expected time or with greater force.
Anyone carrying fireworks and firecrackers and the like outdoors should not place them directly on their body, for example in jacket or trouser pockets; as they might explode there by accident, causing them to impact the body directly. Also, do not ignite the fireworks that did not light the first time.
