ABSTRACT
Setting and Design: A hospital-based retrospective study of firecracker-related injuries was carried
out at a government sponsored hospital in Delhi. Materials and Methods: 1373 patients attended the emergency burn care out-patients clinic during 2002-2010
pre-Diwali, Diwali and post-Diwali days. Every year, a disaster management protocol
is revoked during these 3 days under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Health
and Family Welfare, Government of India. Results: There was an increase in the number of patients of firecracker-related injuries
in Delhi national capital region from the year 2002 to 2010, based on the hospital
statistics. During the study period, the hospital received approximately one patient
with firecracker-related injury per 100,000 population of the city. 73.02% of the
victims were 5-30 years old. Majority (90.87%) of them sustained <5% total body surface
area burn. Conclusions: In spite of legislations and court orders, the number of patients is on the rise.
The implementation agencies have to analyse the situation to find a way to control
this preventable manmade accident. Websites, emails, SMS, social sites, etc. should
be used for public education, apart from conventional methods of public awareness.
KEY WORDS
Disaster - Diwali - firecracker - legislation - noise pollution
