Investigation of Injuries Sustained as a Result of Attending a Foam Party in Florida

BACKGROUND:  Early morning on May 26, 2012, several individuals presented at local hospital emergency departments with severe eye irritation and pain.  Patients indicated that they attended a foam party, an event where foam is sprayed onto a dance floor while participants dance to music, at a local nightclub. An investigation was conducted by the Florida Department of Health to ascertain the number of injured individuals, and determine the epidemiology and risk factors associated with the injuries.

METHODS:  Medical records for exposed persons were obtained from local and surrounding county hospital systems, ophthalmology clinics, and urgent care centers. Contact information, clinical results, and related event information captured in the medical records were abstracted. Interviews were attempted for all individuals with a medical record abstraction, as well as interviewee contacts that attended the foam party. 

RESULTS:  Ultimately, 56 individuals out of an estimated 350 party-goers were identified as sustaining injuries to the eye following attendance at the foam party. Thirty-two cases had medical record abstractions and an interview conducted, 14 had an interview only, and 10 had medical record abstractions only. All cases reported getting foam in their face and 96% reported direct exposure to their eyes. Symptoms included eye irritation (95%), eye pain (91%), photophobia (71%), decreased visual acuity (81%), chemical conjunctivitis (77%), corneal abrasions (50%), and skin irritation (25%). Onset of symptoms was rapid, with most cases reporting onset between midnight and 3 a.m. on the night of the event. The average duration of symptoms was seven days, ranging from one hour to 34 days, with seven individuals failing to have resolution of symptoms at time of their interview. Injuries were severe enough to cause 77% of cases to seek medical care. In addition, 89% of cases stated rubbing their eyes following exposure, 80% mentioned a strong soap smell, and 74% stood directly under one of the foam blowers.

CONCLUSIONS:  In this investigation, 56 cases were identified, most with symptoms requiring medical attention. Due to the limited ability to detect cases that did not seek medical care, the attack rate of 16% most likely underestimates the true number of affected individuals. Based on duration of symptoms and number of individuals requiring medical attention, injuries sustained at this event were not minor, but in many cases resulted in long term injury. Taking safety precautions in events where chemicals are used for entertainment, such as foam parties, is important to help prevent these injuries from occurring.