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Firework-related childhood injuries in Greece: a national problem

Konte Vassilia1, Petridou Eleni, Trichopoulos Dimitrios

  • 1Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Athens University Medical School, 75 M. Asias Street, Goudi, P.O. Box 115-27, Athens, Greece. epetrid@med.uoa.gr

Burns : Journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
|March 17, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Childhood firework injuries in Greece peak during Easter celebrations, primarily affecting boys aged 10-14. Illicit fireworks are a major cause of these preventable emergency department visits.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine
  • Public Health Surveillance
  • Injury Prevention

Background:

  • Firework-related injuries represent a significant public health concern, particularly among children.
  • Understanding the epidemiology and risk factors is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the incidence, characteristics, and risk factors of firework-related injuries in children treated in Greek emergency departments.
  • To estimate the national burden of childhood firework injuries.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the Greek Emergency Department Injury Surveillance System (EDISS) over a 5-year period.
  • Employed descriptive analyses and the Barrell matrix to identify risk factors.
  • Extrapolated national injury figures based on surveillance data.

Main Results:

  • Identified 91 firework-related injuries among 110,066 children.
  • Estimated an annual incidence of 7 firework injuries per 100,000 child-years.
  • Found that 70% of injuries involved children aged 10-14 years, predominantly boys who self-inflicted injuries, while girls were bystanders.
  • Observed a peak incidence during spring, coinciding with Greek Orthodox Easter.
  • Determined that illicitly sold fireworks were the primary cause, with some instances involving homemade devices.

Conclusions:

  • Childhood firework injuries show a distinct seasonal pattern linked to cultural events.
  • Illicit and homemade fireworks pose a substantial risk, necessitating targeted interventions.
  • Public health campaigns and regulatory measures are needed to reduce firework-related injuries in children.

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