Grave warning on $3 supermarket item

A former paramedic has shared an urgent warning for parents over a popular $3 supermarket item that could have potentially lethal consequences.

As millions of Australian celebrate the start of a new year with fireworks, music and dazzling light shows, it’s also extremely common for people to pick up streamers, party horns and sparklers.

But former paramedic and founder of the Tiny Hearts Foundation, Nikki Jurcutz, says the third option could cause the most damage if not handled carefully.

Ms Jurcutz recounted a horrific story of an Australian woman, Rachael, who suffered severe burns and had her hand partially amputated following a mishap with the popular supermarket item.

Rachael recalled feeling “like a magical fairy” when she was handed her sparkler during a celebration as a young child.

“That was until sparks from the sparkler ignited my clothing and I became a literal human torch,” Rachael said in an Instagram post.

The woman was placed in an induced coma for “a few weeks”, only to discover she had the majority of her left hand amputated, required a skin graft to 49 per cent of her body and had to learn how to walk again.

“I had multiple reconstructions, grafts, muscle flaps, physio to learn how to walk, pressure garments and masks,” she said.

Rachael spent “the majority” of her life in hospital until she was 20.

Over a decade later at the age of 32, she still requires surgeries and physio.

“As much as I have adapted, one split second changed my life,” she said.

Sparklers are classified as a type of handheld firework which can reach temperatures between 1200C and 1600C.

A 2021 study from the Australasian Journal of Plastic Surgery found the majority of burns for children under five were caused by sparklers, with over half (59 per cent) of burns reported on hands.

As children are encouraged to wave the sparklers around in the air, there is an added risk of the sparks burning their hands, feet and face and igniting clothing.

This is especially true for synthetic fabrics like acrylic, polyester and nylon, which may not combust into flames but can melt onto the skin and cause severe burns.

For those who want to give their children a sparkler to enjoy during the festive celebrations, Ms Jurcutz recommends sticking the end “into a carrot and have the child hold the carrot”.