Khaberni - One may suffer from burns or may be exposed to severe injuries to the hands, fingers, or eye when igniting fireworks and firecrackers due to negligence or an issue with the fireworks themselves, so what is the first aid necessary in such incidents?
Burns
To answer this question, Professor Bernd Boettiger, a doctor at the German Red Cross, explained that the first aid for burns consists of cooling them with water for at least 20 minutes, ensuring that the water is not too cold, otherwise it may cause a sharp drop in body temperature.
After that, the burn should be covered loosely, ensuring it is sterilized using, for example, a dressing.
In the case of minor burns, one may not need to go directly to the hospital, while extra caution is necessary in the case of major burns, as well as injuries to children and infants; it is imperative to go to the hospital as soon as possible to receive the necessary medical care.
Hands and Fingers
In case of a hand injury with severe bleeding, it is imperative 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 spot to stop it, using a sterile piece of cloth from the first aid kit. The injured person should raise their hand or have medics help them do so.
If the bleeding remains heavy, a compressive bandage should be applied, wrapping gauze around the wound twice or thrice to secure the dressing.
If the explosion of firecrackers results in the amputation of a finger or part of it, one must go to the hospital immediately. Besides stopping the bleeding, the medics take care of the amputated part to increase the chances of reattaching the finger or its part, by wrapping it in a piece of sterile cloth as much as possible.
If a bandage is not available, a clean cloth napkin or a suit pocket handkerchief can be used, but paper napkins should be avoided lest the lint stick to the amputated part.
Following this, the amputated part should be placed in a plastic bag and sealed tightly, then this bag should be placed inside another plastic bag filled with cold water and ice if available. The amputated part must be submerged in the water inside the inner bag to cool it down.
Eye Injuries
Whether the injury is a mere scratch on the cornea or a foreign object has lodged in the eye, it is crucial to go to the hospital immediately, with the necessity of bandaging both eyes to rest them and prevent movement.
Preventative Measures
To avoid accidents in the first place, the German Association for Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery emphasizes the need for safe handling of fireworks and firecrackers by reading the instructions and following them precisely.
One should also use only certified fireworks, identifiable by the (CE) mark on their packaging, while the use of homemade or modified fireworks and the like is strictly prohibited; as they could explode earlier than expected or with greater force.
Anyone carrying fireworks and firecrackers and the like outdoors should not place them directly on their body, like in jacket or trouser pockets; as they may explode there accidentally, leading to direct bodily contact. Likewise, one should not attempt to reignite fireworks that failed to fire on the first attempt.
