An update on the incidence of Burn Injuries on account of Firecrackers during the festival of Diwali
A total of 15 patients with injuries due to fire crackers came to the Advanced Eye Centre, PGIMER, Chandigarh in the last 24 hours. There are 13 males and 2 females. Of these 6 are children (age <18 years) ,with the youngest being 8 years of age. Ten patients were bystanders while 5 were bursting crackers themselves. There are 5 patients from the tricity (Chandigarh-3,Mohali-2, Panchkula-0) while 10 are from the neighbouring states of Punjab (4),Haryana (4), Himachal (1) and Rajasthan (1). Crackers responsible were rockets in 3 patients and different types of bombs In 12 patients.
A total of 12 patients will be needing surgical intervention: 9 of these have serious open globe injuries while 3 patients require minor surgical procedures. All patients have unilateral injuries. Nine patients have already been operated on and 3 are currently undergoing surgery.
| 2020
|
2021 | |
| Total | 27 ( 48 hrs after Diwali) | 15 ( 24 hrs after Diwali) |
| Males /Females
|
17 males; 10 females | 13 males; 2 females |
| Adults / Children
|
14 adults; 13 children | 9 adults; 6 children |
| Self/ Bystanders
|
13 self; 14 bystanders | 5 self; 10 bystanders |
| Unilateral/ bilateral | 21 unilateral; 6 bilateral | All unilateral |
| Tricity/ Neighboring
states |
13 tricity; 14
neighboring states |
5 tricity; 10
neighboring states |
In the Advanced Trauma centre also, 3 patients with burn injuries have reported. And out of three, one patient named Siddharth 26 yr male having around 25% burns (involving chest and arms) has been admitted in Burn ward in Block A of Nehru hospital. Patient is otherwise stable with good output. Rest of the two patients having minor injuries was discharged after required first aid.
The Department of Plastic Surgery received 4 patients injured during Diwali festivities. Two patients sustained major thermal burns( 25% and 70%) while lighting candles. Both of these patients are being monitored closely in the Burn ICU. Another young patient sustained grievous hand injuries as a firecracker burst while he was holding it. Similarly one patient sustained deep burns of thigh and hand due to firecracker blast. Both these patients are also under close observation and will require multiple surgeries over the next few days.
