While there is a wealth of information relating to fireworks safety available, including from our main website, here on the Firework Crazy blog, and elsewhere online, sometimes incidents and accidents occur during fireworks events.
Thankfully, tragedies such as the Indian temple blaze in early April 2016 that claimed the lives of over 100 people and injured over 400 others are extremely rare, as are incidents that occur on a smaller scale. Given the level of awareness that exists today around firework safety, instances of fireworks injuring people due to misuse at events and other occasions have massively reduced, too.
What is the Most Common Fireworks Injury?
The most common fireworks injuries are actually minor burns caused by sparklers. When you know this, it is then perhaps unsurprising to learn that most of these injuries occur to children. The positive thing about most of these minor burns is that they usually leave no lasting effects. It’s just like when you catch yourself on the oven or a hot pan; you’ll have a mark and some pain but it’ll usually subside very quickly.
It is impossible to say occurrences of these minor burns will ever be eradicated fully. Children are children, after all, and as any parent knows, no matter how often you tell a curious mind not to do something, they’re probably going to do it anyway, hence the finger on the end of the sparkler and the piercing cry as they get hurt.
How do You Treat a Fireworks Burn?
There is nothing special or different about fireworks burns, you treat them as you would any other burn. In cases where the burn is a minor one caused by a sparkler, you can deal with it by applying cold water and then using a neat bandage dressing – not applied too tightly – to cover the burn and to allow it to heal. There may be a need to apply a healing cream, too, which may be prescribed by your doctor or be something you buy from over the counter yourself.
Where burns are worse or a more severe accident has occurred, medical professionals should be on hand at the display to help. However, even bad looking burns can be self-treated, although it is always advisable to seek professional medical help should you have any doubt or concerns.
Staying Safe
While accidents do happen, you can minimize the risk by ensuring you follow all the relevant safety advice for holding a fireworks display. Even if you hold a small display in your garden, you should consider a First Aid kit essential.
Ensure you stay safe and keep your display enjoyable for all by reading our fireworks safety tips.