Doctors from the Brazilian Society of Hand Surgery (SBCM) issued a warns of the risk of serious accidents in handling fireworks at the end of the year festivities. When handled by unskilled people, firecrackers and bombs can cause serious injuries, such as third-degree burns, bone trauma, amputations and even death.
“The force of the explosion, combined with the intense heat, could result in severe damage to bonessuch as fractures in the fingers, hands and even the wrist. The explosion can also cause deep lacerations, tissue damage and even amputations, depending on the severity of the accident”, highlighted the president of the Brazilian Society of Hand Surgery (SBCM), Antonio Carlos da Costa.
The doctor advises that strict precautions be taken when working, especially not to handle the artifacts directly with your hands. “Always use appropriate utensilssuch as supports or triggers, to handle the fireworks. Avoid holding them directly in your hands, even the simplest ones”, advises Costa.
“Maintain a safe distance between fireworks and people, especially children and animals. Do not approach the device after lighting, as it may explode unexpectedly”, he adds.
According to the doctor, it is also important that the purchase of fireworks is made in authorized establishments, and only artifacts that have a security seal are purchased.
In the period from January to September 2024, 288 hospitalizations and hospital visits for injuries caused by fireworks were recorded in the Unified Health System (SUS), a higher number than in the same period in 2023, when 271 cases were recorded.
The number of outpatient visits to victims of burns caused by fireworks reached 112 in the same period in 2024. In 2023, in the same period, there were 102. From 2019 to 2022, the SUS recorded 1,548 hospitalizations for injuries caused by fireworks , an average of one case per day.
