title: Firework injuries at a major trauma and burn center: A five-year prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In China, fireworks are an integral part of the celebration of the annual Spring Festival, but the number of injuries associated with their private use seen in emergency rooms increases dramatically. To raise awareness and help guide future prevention practices in this city, we investigated the epidemiology of firework-related injuries presented at our trauma and burn center in Beijing during the Spring Festivals of 2007-2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were interviewed using a pre-coded questionnaire to elicit information regarding age, gender, causes, injured body part, type of injury, diagnosis, and disposition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 2007 to 2011, during the Spring Festivals 734 patients with fire-work related injuries were seen at our trauma and burn center in Beijing, the median patients of the five year were 140(136-150). The mean age of the patients was 26±15.3 years (range, 1-95 years). Of the 734 patients, the highest proportion of injuries were the 5-14 year-old age group The majority of the patients were male (87.9%), the overall male:female ratio was 7.41:1, and males were predominant in all age groups. For all 5 years, the incidence of firework-related injuries during the Spring Festival Holidays peaked specifically on the first, fifth, and last days, respectively. Injuries were mainly due to improper handling (415/610, 68.0%) or setting off illegal fireworks (195/610, 32.0%). The most frequently injured body parts were the hands and fingers (32.0%), head or face except eyes (28.3%), and trunk (22.4%). Burns were the most common type of injury (65.7%), most of the burned patients (437/453) were between 1% and 10%, and the most common region burned were hands and fingers (218/754). Contusions or lacerations were the second common type of injury (34.3%). Most of the patients (642, 87.5%) were treated and released, while 37 (5%) were treated and transferred, and 55 (7.5%) were admitted for advanced treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The private use of fireworks during the Spring Festival Holidays is associated with a considerable number of injuries to various parts of the body. We can minimize the number and severity of accidents by raising awareness of safety practices, encouraging professional displays only and motivating manufacturers to adhere to strict quality control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Burns, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, the Fourth Clinical Medical College of Peking University, 100035 PR China.
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Burns, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, the Fourth Clinical Medical College of Peking University, 100035 PR China.
authors.forename: Ran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Burns, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, the Fourth Clinical Medical College of Peking University, 100035 PR China.
authors.forename: Wei-Li
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Department of Burns, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, the Fourth Clinical Medical College of Peking University, 100035 PR China.
authors.forename: Fang-Gang
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Ning
authors.affiliation: Department of Burns, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, the Fourth Clinical Medical College of Peking University, 100035 PR China. Electronic address: jstburn@yahoo.cn.
authors.forename: Guo-An
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002053:Burn Units; D002056:Burns / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003288:Contusions / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D053834:Explosive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006693:Holidays / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D022125:Lacerations / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014193:Trauma Centers; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D053834:Explosive Agents
keywords: Firework injuries; Fireworks; Prevention; Spring Festival Holidays