In our pediatric burn center the median age for patients with sparkler-related injuries was 6.5 years (range 1-14). Boys were affected more often than girls (ratio 2:1). Of particular concern are children (usually boys) who use sparklers to make improvised explosive devices. This was done by scraping the powder coating from the sparkler, which was then either lit or used in combination with petrol to make a sparkler bomb. Girls and very young children are typically injured when they touch a recently burned-out sparkler or when a sparkler sets clothing alight. All cases occurred at or around home. All children were supervised by one or both parents (or in one case a friend's parent).
The Internet provides easily accessible information on constructing home-made sparkler bombs of astonishing power and intensity. Although the packages of these "shop goods" fireworks display obvious warnings concerning the need for close adult supervision, the warnings are clearly insufficient to prevent injuries when parents are under the false impression that sparklers are harmless.
Language: en
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