[Pandemic-related sales ban of fireworks in Germany leads to a significant reduction of firework-related eye injuries].

ABSTRACT:

Background and aim

The continuous recording of eye injuries caused by fireworks around New Year's Eve over 6 years allows us to investigate injury numbers, injury patterns, and accident histories in a year to year comparison. In order to relieve the burden on hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic, a ban on the sale of firework articles was implemented in Germany for 2020/2021 and 2021/2022. We investigate the impact of these measures on the number of fireworks-related eye injuries and analyze whether this led to an increase in serious injuries and an association with increased use of homemade pyrotechnics or pyrotechnics potentially not approved in Germany.

Methods

We used our online questionnaire to collect anonymized data on patients, accident history, and, since 2017/201

SUBMITTER: Gabel-Pfisterer A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9713168 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature