Citation

Nguyen N, Hunt JP, Lindfors D, Greiffenstein P. Inj. Extra 2014; 45(4): 32-34.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.injury.2014.02.021

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Firework injuries have been reported in the literature but usually with regards to mangled extremities, superficial burns and disfiguring soft tissue injuries. Unbeknownst to most lay handlers of recreational fireworks, the blast effect of even a small explosive charge is magnified significantly when detonated underwater, turning a modestly charged firework into a potentially deadly weapon. While the literature is abundant in injuries sustained from underwater detonations of military grade explosives, we found only a single case report of traumatic brain injury resulting from an illegal M80 explosive [4]. We describe a young man who sustained severe life-threatening haemorrhagic pulmonary contusion resulting from incomplete launching of an aerial firework that detonated in the water where he was partially submerged. This report reviews the mechanism of underwater blast injuries and the factors contributing to severe internal organ damage from relatively small-charge and commercially available explosive devices.