title: Firework-related childhood injuries in Greece: a national problem.
abstract: During a 5-year period, out of 110066 children with injuries recorded in the Greek Emergency Department Injury Surveillance System (EDISS), 91 had firework-related injuries. Descriptive analyses and the Barrell matrix were used to determine risk factors and extrapolated national firework childhood injury figures were calculated. The estimated annual incidence of childhood firework injuries treated in the emergency departments of hospitals countrywide, was 7 per 100000 children years. Seventy percent of injuries concerned older children (10-14 years), mostly boys with self-inflicted injuries, whereas girls suffered injuries as bystanders. A sharp peak in spring was noted, when the Greek Orthodox Easter is celebrated. Illicitly sold fireworks caused most injuries, but in eight instances homemade firecrackers were responsible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Athens University Medical School, 75 M. Asias Street, Goudi, P.O. Box 115-27, Athens, Greece. epetrid@med.uoa.gr
authors.forename: Konte
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vassilia
authors.forename: Petridou
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Eleni
authors.forename: Trichopoulos
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dimitrios
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D002056:Burns / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004630:Emergencies; D005107:Explosions / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology