Firework-related injury survey report 2014

The 1 July, Territory Day, is the only day of the year when fireworks may be bought and used by the general public without a permit. Since 1998 the Northern Territory (NT) Centre of Disease Control has conducted an annual survey of firework related injuries across the NT. The aim of the survey is to identify details of these injuries to inform future firework safety campaigns. The survey was conducted across the 5 public Emergency Departments in the NT, the Palmerston Super Clinic and Australian Department of Defence Health Centres. All patients who presented to these health centres with a firework related injury between 30 June and 6 July had basic demographic and medical data collected and were invited to take part in the survey. The survey collected further information regarding the mechanism and nature of injury, first-aid treatment and alcohol use. There were 21 firework related injuries identified in the survey; 19 were burns. The majority were male (71.4%), young (median age of 18) and NT residents (95%). Nearly half of those injured were bystanders (47.6%). There was 1 severe injury requiring hospitalisation, 14 moderate and 6 mild injuries. Hands were the most common site of injury. The 2014 firework related injury survey demonstrated a higher number of injuries among a younger cohort than previous years. This information should be used to inform the target audience and key messages of future safety campaigns to optimise their effectiveness.