[Fire work-related injuries in Tehran's Charshanbe Soori]

ABSTRACT

Fireworks are the leading cause of injuries in the ceremony of Chaharshanbeh Soori in Iran. The present study was designed to assess the prevalence and the severity of such injuries, the high-risk population, the causes and the accompanying morbidities in such ceremonies. This cross-sectional study was performed on individuals referred to different medical centers by Tehran Emergency Service due to fireworks- and Chaharshanbe soori-related injuries in 2007. The patients' demographic data, the cause of the accident, the type of the firework, the severity and the site of the injury, the performed prehospital and hospital care, and the patients condition at the time of discharge were extracted from the patients medical records. The information on the severity of the remaining morbidities in 8 months after the accident was also gathered. About 197 patients were enrolled in this study. The mean age of the patients was about 20.94 +/- 11.31 years. The majority of them were males. Crackers and home-made grenade were the most frequent cause of injury. The most frequently reported injuries consisted of bums, laceration and contusion, soft tissue injury and bone injuries, respectively. Fireworks should be produced and distributed based on standard regulations. Educating the families and students, and holding public ceremonies under the direct control of the families are considered as important strategies in reducing such injuries