Fireworks Injury Prevention
	Date: Thu, 26 Dec 1996 09:46:32 -0300 From: Miguel A. Ferrarotti [adox@ssdnet.com.ar] Today, December 26, in Argentina are a lot of people wounded and burned due to pirotechnics artifacts. Is there any experience in this list about campaigns against pirotechnics usage?? Miguel A. Ferrarotti adox@ssdnet.com.ar Buenos Aires Argentina
	Date: Sun, 29 Dec 1996 19:06:00 +1100 From: Glen Hawkins [glenhawk@ozemail.com.au] In New Zealand there was a progressive banning of all Pyrotechnics except for legitimate displays. This was spearheaded by 'The fireworks lady' (sorry can't remember her name) and in the early 1990's legislation was passed that all fireworks were banned in New Zealand except for legitimate displays for Guy Fawkes night (Nov 5- English tradition when a Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up the english parliment). Incidents that made this legislation more easily enacted were stunts such as attaching coins to the heads of fireworks to make them pierce windows and soem idiot attempting to shoot down the medical retrieval helicopter with a sky rocket. Cheers Glen PS: Unfortunately the 'Fireworks lady' passed away I believe from cancer just prior to the legislation being passed. Glen Hawkins (glenhawk@ozemail.com.au)
	Date: 26 Dec 96 22:32:03 EST From: Stephen M. Stowe, M.d. [102747.3140@CompuServe.COM] In New York City there have always been a significant number of Fireworks injuries in the period of time leading up the the Fourth of July. Last year the Police and Fire Departments conduct a vigorous enforcement campaign against the sale of fireworks, which as been illegal in New York City for decades. In 1996 there was not a single fireworks related injury. Sometimes the enforcement of simple laws does work. Stephen M. Stowe, M.D.
	Date: Sat, 28 Dec 1996 21:10:25 -0200 From: Paulo Antonio Mangabeira Brochado [paulobro@ez-poa.com.br] Dealing with 'dangerous' things is always problematic, and the usual solution is the easy way out: forbid them! Be it guns, fireworks, high speed, drugs, you mention it... control them as hard as feasible, preferably try to erradicate them/their usage. Very effective indeed. A pity it doesn't work... I'm frequently wrong, and perhaps this is just one more of my many mistakes, but I'd never trust prohibition as solution or effective prevention to anything. Anytime, all the time, I'd go the hard but -- as I see it -- sure way. Allow it -- with education (e.g. there ARE safe ways to deal with pyrotechnic artifacts), and due responsability. Or there will always be a black market and _very_ unsafe artifacts/substances available to whomever's willing to pay the price. I suspect that more than a score of unfortunate victims will show at both trauma centers here in Porto Alegre with torn hands and related wounds from misfired fireworks this 'reveillon'. In spite of (or due to?) the very strict limitation on sale, and supposedly severe inspection of such artifacts demanded by law. Be that as it may, here's to a flameless 1997! 8^)) Take care. Paulo Antonio Mangabeira Brochado paulobro@ez-poa.com.br Porto Alegre/RS BRASIL
	Date: Sun, 29 Dec 1996 11:06:51 +0800 From: therbosa@kulog.upm.edu.ph [Teodoro J. Herbosa] For years, blast injuries secondary to firecrackers have been a tradition in greeting the New Year in the Philippines. As a surgery resident in the late seventies and early eigthies, we see a deluge of these injuries (500 per night)including people hit by stray bullets from drunk gun owners who fire their firearms. I know of a lot of written papers on these injuries (blasts) and even watusi poisoning in children in our local literature. Over the past few years, government has had some gains with public awarenes programmes and a regulation on the very strong firecrackers. We usually have little problems with pyrotechnics but our problems come from the diferrent fircrackers, Bawang, Superlolo, 5 star, Sinturin ni Hudas etc. Every year emergency departments especially public and government hospitals are filled by these injuries at midnight till the following morning. We even get cases of Tetanus in patients who do not consult until weeks after the injury. Our department of orthopedics have studied these injuries, they've looked at the bacteriology, epidemiolgy and types of hand injuries found in these patients. For anyone who ha spent New Year's eve in the Manila, they know what I am talking about. Our Emergency Department and both Surgical departments and anesthesia departments work full time "Red Alert" status during this times. We've gotten so used to it that, I consider it our yearly Disaster drill in the hospital. The ED is set-up with Triage areas, minor surgical teams, 6 to 8 Torso trauma teams and many more Hand teams that do all necessary procedures. The whole hospital is mobilized. Luckily, with better public health campaigns this problem has been decreasing tremendously, but continue to be a tradition. Its is a tradition we inherited from the Chinese to greet the new year with a BANG and missing fingers :-). Happy New Year to all in the list! I invite some of you to Manila to witness these events! Teodoro J. Herbosa MD FPCS Division of Trauma Philippine General Hospital University of the Philippines, Manila & Chairman Department of Emergency Medical Services PGH UP, Manila
	Date: Mon, 30 Dec 1996 17:10:43 -0500 From: Darren Walter [106070.3001@compuserve.com] In the United Kingdom fireworks have two distinct usage patterns. Throughout the year there are carefully prepared and organised displays that have a very low incident rate (never say never in medicine), but in the period around the 5th November they are on general sale to the public. This is meant to help a traditional celebration of the activities of Guy Fawkes, together with huge bonfires and a "Guy" figure perched on the top. Because of the traditions, no attempt has been made to ban such pyrotechnics but there are restrictions on the age at which you can purchase them, and there are well advertised standards that they should meet (a kite mark). Safety campaigns are run by the Government on an annual basis about fire safety as well as fireworks. Over the years they have become more graphic. Pictures of burnt teddy bears have been replaced with scarred children talking about "only doing it for a laugh", and even still pictures of people who have died (with family permission of course). Together with the increasing cost and a move to more organised displays, there has been a steady decline in the number of incidents each year. Emergency Departments are required to collect data on those attending around the Bonfire Night and are submitted to the Department of Health for National Records. Without being Draconian, the message is getting through. Darren Walter Honorary Medical Officer Lancashire Ambulance Service England