A former paramedic has warned Australians about the potential dangers of flares after a woman’s life was turned upside down in seconds.
Nikki Jurcutz, who worked as a paramedic for eight years at Ambulance Victoria, has re-shared the heartbreaking story of a young woman called Rachael to highlight the risks of the $3 supermarket item commonly used at New Year’s and birthday parties.
For most of her life, Rachael was in and out of the hospital after suffering severe burns after her flare unexpectedly lit her clothes, turning her into a “literal human torch.”
Reflecting on that fateful day, Rachael, now 32, wanted to warn others about the innocent handheld fireworks that led her down an unbearable path for more than 10 years after her left hand was amputated and she had to learn to walk again.
‘As much as I have adapted, a split second changed my life. However, it is something that people do not think about,” he said.
‘Flares are very dangerous and account for the majority of serious fireworks-related injuries. However, we classify them as “safe.”
It all started when her parents gave her sparklers to play with when she was a child.
“I remember thinking I felt like a magical fairy… That was until the sparks from the sparkler lit my clothes on fire,” Rachael said.
Former paramedic Nikki Jurcutz (pictured) warned Australians about the potential dangers of flares after a woman’s life was turned upside down in seconds.
She explained how the ordeal left her in an induced coma for several weeks while she underwent major surgeries, including an amputation.
“Upon regaining consciousness, most of my left hand was amputated and my parents discovered that I needed full-thickness burn grafts on 49 percent of my body and face,” he recalled.
‘I had multiple reconstructions, grafts, muscle flaps, physio to learn to walk, pressure garments and masks.’
Despite spending months in intensive care, his nightmare was not over.
“(The doctors) taught my mom how to dress my wounds at home between surgeries,” Rachael said.
She explained how the simple act ended up leaving her with a life of pain.
“For years, until I was 20, I spent most of my life in the hospital undergoing surgeries or physical therapy,” he said.
“Even now, at 32, I still have them.”
Rachael shared her story with the former paramedic, who runs an Australian child safety page called Education of little heartshoping to raise awareness.
For most of her life, Rachael was in and out of hospital after suffering severe burns after her flare ignited her clothes, turning her into a “literal human torch” (stock image).
‘Sparklers are often given to children who may not understand the dangers and they are encouraged to wave them. Sparklers cause more injuries to children under five than any other type of fireworks,” Nikki warned.
‘Unlike other fireworks, sparklers are hand-held, which increases the risk of burns. The flares burn at temperatures up to 1200°C. Sparks can ignite clothing, especially synthetic fabrics, causing serious injury.
“If you still want to use sparklers, a good tip is to stick the end into a carrot and let the child hold the carrot.”
Many parents shared their own experiences, while others warned that adults can also be injured when using sparklers, not just children.
“Thank you for posting. We had a burn (minor on our daughter’s fingers) last night, but knowing the carrot trick would have been really helpful,” said one mom.
‘When I was seven, some idiot waved one and put it in my hair. It was unbearable, melting flesh and hair almost instantly. I have suffered many burns since I put a ripper on my hand (third degree burns) and the flare is still four times more painful, please be careful with this,” another shared.
“I stood on a sparkler when I was a teenager and I’ll never forget the pain. I’m super paranoid now and that was 13 years ago,” one recalled.
“My daughter’s clothes caught on fire and she ended up in intensive care at the children’s hospital… it happens,” another revealed.
Many said they wish they had known the carrot trick sooner after suffering burns as children from playing with sparklers.
‘Where was this warning when I was 10 years old and the flare set my skirt on fire?’ said one.
“If only I knew that when I was making sparklers with the kids,” another shared.