Title: Antioquia‘s Festive Season Marred by 148 Pólvora-Related Injuries
The last days of December and the first week of January are traditionally a time of joy and celebration, but in Antioquia, they have also been marred by a worrying trend: the misuse of pólvora leading to severe injuries. Despite the known dangers, many people continue to ignore the warnings, leading to a rise in accidents that have left 148 people injured as of January 6, according to the Department of Health.
The victims include a 21-year-old man from Medellín who suffered a fracture and had to have his fingers amputated after mishandling a firecracker. A 45-year-old woman in the same city also sustained first-degree burns on her back and torso due to voladores (fireworks attached to a string). These are not isolated incidents. In Sabanalarga, a 36-year-old woman and a 13-year-old girl were injured by voladores, while in Segovia, a 34-year-old man suffered lacerations and first-degree burns to his face while handling fireworks.
Worryingly, the number of injured is identical to last year’s count for the same period. The city of Medellín has seen the highest number of incidents with 56 cases, followed by Guarne, Bello, Caucasia, and Segovia, each with six cases. Alarmingly, 40 of the injured are minors, and 16 have suffered permanent eye damage, with 14 undergoing amputations.
Federico Gutiérrez, mayor of Medellín, attributed 35% of the injuries to people directly handling fireworks, while others were bystanders or even people simply passing by. He also noted that two young people had to be hospitalized after suffering severe injuries from mishandling pólvora.
As the authorities continue to remind the public of the dangers of using pólvora, it is crucial that everyone takes the necessary precautions to ensure their safety and that of others. The festive season should be a time of joy, not a season of preventable injuries.
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