Every year, damage caused by fireworks is coming to stay

Every year it comes in the new year’s eve night to serious injuries due to fireworks. Most frequently, the hands are affected, which can carry through a pressure injury or burning permanent damage. You could think that a responsible use of firecrackers and fireworks is a matter of common sense, but the number of serious injuries that occur each year, draw a different picture.

The German society for hand surgery (DGH) and the German society for Orthopaedics and trauma surgery (DGOU) in a joint press release to be more responsible in handling firecrackers and fireworks on new year’s eve. The scientific societies warn that every year people retire permanent injuries and disabilities in the new year’s eve night.

Burns, fractures, severed fingers

“The patients come in with severed fingers, burns, fractures and soft tissue injuries to the hands,” warns Professor Dr. Andreas iron Schenk from the accident hospital in Berlin. Again and again it come to severe injuries when fireworks explode directly on the body. Even with immediate medical assistance and successful intervention could not be guaranteed, that the result of such injury, permanent damage. In the Hand, the Interplay of muscles, Tendons, nerves and bones would be extremely complex. Injuries caused by fireworks could not Hold the Grip, the sensor damage skills, the feeling and also the sense of touch permanently.

Responsibility is the best protection

“The best protection against accidents is bodies, responsibility in the handling of fireworks,” emphasizes Professor Dr. Joachim Windolf, Director of the clinic for trauma and hand surgery at the University hospital in Düsseldorf. With simple rules the majority of accidents involving fireworks were bodies avoid. The best is to use only firecrackers to be detonated in the Hand, advises the Professor. Young people in particular should watch out for new year’s eve. They are especially affected by serious injuries.

So you can go to the fireworks (as good as) nothing wrong

The professional societies provide tips for a safe handling with the fireworks in the new year’s eve:

• Firecrackers not to manipulate or even manufacture
• only products with CE-mark and BAM-test number use
• not with fireworks experiment
• Firecrackers are not the body to carry around,
• Fireworks store sealed and in a safe distance,
• Dud not ignite,
• before the fireworks there is no or only little alcohol to drink.

What to do if something happens

Should it come to a hand injury, should be as quickly as possible, and visited a clinic with a designated hand surgery. “In Germany there are 44 specially equipped clinics, which are accredited as Hand Trauma center”, recommend that the professional societies. This Hand-Trauma centers are specialized in the treatment of severe hand injuries, and could supply emergencies around the clock optimally. Up to the time of arrival in a clinic, the Hand should be connected as sterile as possible.

Severed fingers in the ice cream store

Contrary to popular opinion, the professional societies make it clear that the severed Finger should be cooled by ice. This would make a reattachment of the finger impossible. (vb)