In Victoria, the first restriction on the sale and use of fireworks was introduced in the Explosives Act 1960.23 The Explosives (Prohibition of Fireworks) Ordinance came into force in 1982.24 Subsequently, the Dangerous Goods Act 1985 was introduced.25 Section 54 of the Act26 does not prohibit certain fireworks. These include Chinese fireworks, sparks, model rocket engines, toy gun caps and other new fireworks. However, the use of Chinese fireworks and fireworks is limited to licensees who must be at least 21 years old. Anyone who helps with restricted fireworks must also be at least 18 years old. The objective of this study was to document and describe the epidemiology of firecracker injuries in Victoria, Australia, following restrictions on sale and use in 1985. Fines apply to the possession or delivery of illegal fireworks. To report the illegal use of fireworks, contact Victoria Police if the matter is urgent, or Worksafe Victoria at 1800 136 089.1 In this Act, “fireworks” include cannon firecrackers, fireballs, fireworks, mines, Roman candles, shooting towers, squibs, torpedoes and any other explosive designated by order as fireworks. Results – The mean age (SD) of emergency room participants between January 1988 and June 1996 was 8.9 (6.2) years and most (88%) were under 18 years of age. Men accounted for 71% of cases. The most common anatomical sites and types of injuries were head (47%) and burns (88%), respectively. About 53% of the injuries were caused by fireworks, the rest by sparks and penny bangers. Among those admitted to hospital between July 1987 and June 1996, the average age (ET) was 22.9 (14.8) years and 50% were under 18 years of age, with men accounting for 87% of cases. There was a significant difference in average age between those who were hospitalized and those who were not hospitalized, with the former being significantly older.
In the absence of historical data prior to the enactment of the law, the impact of the law could not be assessed. In the past, however, some studies have been conducted on burns and accidents in children and adults in Australia. MacLeod reported that out of 461 causes of burns in adults between 1963 and 1967, four were caused by fireworks.35 Stitz said that of the 194 cases of burns in children at the Royal Brisbane Hospital between 1967 and 1970, six were caused by fireworks.36 Similarly, Savage and Leitch found that in children, 1% of burns were caused by fireworks.37 Blicavs and Savage reported very few injuries from fireworks and admissions to Adelaide Children`s Hospital,38 and Masterton et al. stated that none of the burn patients were admitted to Alfred Hospital between 1973 and 1974.39 The head of the CFA, Jason Heffernan, said: Illegal fireworks can often cause large bushfires and grass fires. especially during the Christmas and New Year periods. “We already had an incident in Mernda earlier this month in which CFA teams were called in for a grass fire that was allegedly started by illegal fireworks,” Chief Heffernan said. Information about the sale or use of illegal fireworks can be reported to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or by submitting a confidential crime report to www.crimestoppersvic.com.auExternal link. Most of the injuries sustained by emergency room participants were caused by fireworks and sparks. Although the sparks are sold legally, it was impossible to use the data to assess the legal status of the remaining fireworks.
In general, a law cannot completely prevent people from receiving, making or using fireworks. Injuries can result from both legal and illegal fireworks.4, 9 Therefore, in order to develop other countermeasures, it is important to thoroughly investigate the type of fireworks that cause injury. As we bid farewell to a difficult 2020, Victorians are urged to avoid the dangers of celebrating with illegal fireworks. Public fireworks can only take place on 31 October from 5pm to 10pm, and the sale or trade of fireworks or fireworks is prohibited in Colwood, View Royal, Langford and the Highlands. “Those caught with illegal fireworks not only face up to 15 years in prison and thousands of dollars in fines, but also put themselves, their family, friends and the community at risk. Conclusions – Although relatively rare, fireworks injuries still occur in Victoria under legal sales restrictions in 1985. Therefore, there is a potential risk of injury to children, especially from fireworks. More law enforcement, education and parental supervision are needed to prevent injuries caused by fireworks. Anyone in possession of illegal fireworks should contact WorkSafe`s consulting service on 1800 136 089 so that they can be picked up. If you wish to use fireworks, you must have completed a three-year course on fireworks safety. Once the free online course and exam are completed, your local fire department will be notified of the results and you will be able to apply for a permit.