University Medicine Magdeburg asks for caution when handling fireworks
Traditionally, many citizens say goodbye to the old year on December 31 with a big fireworks display. Unfortunately, this ritual leads to some serious injuries every year due to improper and careless handling of fireworks, not to mention illegally marketed products that do not comply with German safety standards.
"Classic" injuries occur to fingers and hands, but also to the facial area, including the eyes, which can sometimes lead to the loss of the eye.The excessive consumption of alcohol on New Year's Eve exacerbates this problem by encouraging reckless behavior.
Prof. Dr. med. Hagen Thieme, Director of the University Eye Clinic Magdeburg, points out the great risk of injury and says: "In addition to superficial burns to the cornea, there is a risk of eye injuries from flying splinters and firecrackers."The eye clinic has specially prepared itself for "extremely complicated operations", as the clinic director emphasizes. He adds: "Corneal burns from fine sparks cause considerable pain. If firecrackers explode directly in front of the eye, parts of them can penetrate the cornea and seriously injure the eye." With New Year's Eve rockets, which are fired at high speed, the human reaction time of 0.3 seconds is not sufficient to avoid the projectile. "If a missile hits the eye, it can burst like a balloon," warns Thieme.
In the years of the coronavirus pandemic, large gatherings and the use of fireworks outdoors were severely restricted or prohibited.Statistically speaking, the number of injuries was correspondingly low, as the University Eye Clinic Magdeburg was also able to ascertain. Doctors are appealing for the proper (and moderate) use of fireworks & co. in order to relieve the burden on emergency departments and avoid emergency operations wherever possible.
Symbolic photo New Year's Eve firecrackers - © SKatzenberger - stock.adobe.com