[Paddlewise] exploding flares

Kia Ora,

This might interest some of you.
An article in our club newsletter discribed how a guide was badly hurt
when a handflare exploded.
While distributing the handflares along side the kayaks ready for his
customers he dropped one.About one or two seconds later, a mighty bang
and his jaw was hit by pieces and broken in two places,aswell as cutting
an artery,a facial nerve,saliva duct he was bleeding freely.
The handflare was a Wessix Mk 7.Each flare was stored in a canister made
out of 40mm plastic pipe with end caps cemented on.
The drill was, that after each trip the flares were removed from the
cannisters and placed on a rack to dry.before the next trip they were
inspected and replaced in the cannisters. 
The clients would than be instructed in the use of the flares and
storage.On occasions durin inspection it was found that the flares were
left in the firing position.
However fragments were recovered and it appears the flare itself
exploded.This -it states- "would have been caused by the high pressures
inside the canister".
Holes have now been drilled in the cannisters and covered by a length 
of bicycle inner tube,so it allows excessive pressure to escape,without
allowing the water in..This modification has been tested by the
Department of Labour........
****** The question that I ask myself is can this happen without being
dropped ?
Say inside the boat or on top due to heat or rough seas ?
Any experts on this subject ?
Enjoy life,
Eddie.
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