Sometimes, Foam Parties Go Horribly Wrong

Sometimes, Foam Parties Go Horribly Wrong
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Foam parties, as the name implies, are dance club events at which amorous, half-naked, and drunk whippersnappers flail about while getting sprayed with foam. The foam is usually some sort of detergent, but the exact chemical makeup is sometimes unknown for propietary reasons. In late May 2012, a Florida night club put on its third -- and quite possibly last -- foam party. Foam parties are all fun and games until somebody gets hurt, and in this case, several dozen people got hurt.

The day after the event, many partygoers showed up at emergency rooms complaining of severe eye pain. An investigation determined that out of approximately 350 attendees, about 56 sustained eye injuries, 43 of whom received medical attention. For those of you keeping score, that means the night club sent 12% of its customers to the hospital. That's probably not good for business.

What sort of medical complications did the young co-eds have? Beyond eye irritation and pain, some suffered from conjunctivitis, corneal abrasions, and a decrease in visual acuity. Nearly a dozen were so badly injured they couldn't open an eye or read that gigantic letter "E" at the top of the eye chart.

The most tragic part: Some of the revelers probably weren't feeling well enough to attend the next foam party.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Notes from the Field: Eye Injuries Sustained at a Foam Party — Collier County, Florida 2012." MMWR 62 (33): 667-668.

(Image: Foam party via Scott Sandars/Wikimedia Commons)

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