Fireworks are a big thing this time of year, they are used mainly for bonfire night and the new year. However, when fireworks are used for the wrong reasons or in a unsafe way it floods the A&E departments all over the UK.
Plastic surgeons say the number of life-changing injuries is rising every year despite numerous safety campaigns.
Senior doctors are asking for graphic images of injuries to be put on firework packaging to make a difference. It is believed that if life changing injuries are shown on packaging it may divert misuse of fireworks; this means less injuries may happen.
Half of the people that were admitted to hospital due to fireworks were aged 18 or under and 80% were male.
The ‘Handling explosives’ campaign is being led by the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (Bapras)
Bapras president David Ward said “We are extremely concerned about the continued misuse of fireworks, particularly by those under the age of 18 away from organised events.
“Although [fireworks are] packaged in a jovial, toy-like fashion, people forget that when using fireworks, they are handling explosives which can cause extremely serious injuries that may require extensive reconstructive surgery.
“Bapras is calling on the government to make a common-sense change by legislating to ensure all firework packaging in the UK includes mandatory graphic warning notices, similar to those found on cigarette packaging.”
Last year (2017), there was almost 4,500 people in England that attended A&E with injuries due to fireworks. This number is double from years 2009-10.
Legally, you must be 18 or over to buy fireworks but under 18s are still accessing fireworks somehow as many of the hospital injuries are under 18s; these can be boys aged 10-14 years old.
Over the past few years 350 pre-school children (some were one years old) were treated at hospital for firework injuries, it is important to stay safe when having fireworks at home too.
