A patient suffering injuries caused by fireworks is being treated at Vietnam–Germany Friendship Hospital. Photo hanoimoi.com

Dozens of patients have been treated at the Vietnam–Germany Friendship Hospital in the past month with burns caused by firecrackers. 

In just three days from January 5 to January 8, three people were treated for serious injuries, including a man who was burnt as he was making an explosive device in his home, Hà Nội Mới (New Hà Nội) newspaper reported.

On January 8, a 15-year-old boy was rushed to the hospital with his fingers damaged and fractured bones on his left hand. The injury also caused damage to vision of his right eye.

Earlier on January 5, another student, also 15, from the northern province of Hai Duong was admitted to the hospital with similar injuries.

But one of the most shocking cases was a 14-year-old from Ninh Binh who suffered serious burns to his entire face and body when he and his friends tried to make fireworks following online instructions.  

The flame sparked a chemical reaction and a local resident took the children to a nearby clinic for emergency treatment. The boy was the most severe case so he was transferred to Le Huu Trac National Institute of Burns.

The institute said more and more children are being admitted to hospital, particularly in the run-up to Tet. 

Nguyen Thi Huong from NIB said it was fortunate that the boy and his friends made firecrackers in an outdoor space, adding that if the firecrackers were made in a closed room, they might have suffered respiratory burns or even death by the explosion.

According to Nguyen Manh Khanh, from Vietnam-Germany Friendship Hospital, when the firecrackers explode with great destructive power, the victim is susceptible to serious injuries in many parts of the body. It is common to see fingers and hands need to be removed, and it could even cause blindness. In addition, patients are at risks of suffering wound infections and severe burns, which makes treatment long and costly.

Statistics from the Ministry of Health showed that the number of accidents involving firecrackers increased over the past few years.

As many as 321 people were hospitalised due to firecracker-related incidents during Tet (Lunar New Year) last year, compared to 287 cases in 2019 and 197 in 2018.

Doctor Hoang Cuong from the Central Eye Hospital said buying, selling, storing and using firecrackers is illegal. However, with the existence of the smuggled firecrackers from other countries and home-made firecrackers, accidents still occur.

The doctor said authorities needed to tighten the management the sale, transportation and storage of firecrackers of all types. Violations should be strictly dealt with.

Public education should be intensified to increase people’s awareness of the harmful effect of homemade firecrackers.

“On the occasion of Tet, the Central Eye Hospital usually receives dozens of eye accidents caused by firecrackers."

If people are injured they are advised to not too panic, but seek immediate medical assistance.

Ngo Tuan Hung from NIB’s Emergency Department said in order to celebrate the new year safely and happily, the whole society as well as every family, school and each student should be aware of the dangers of making explosives.

They should strictly abide by Government’s regulations on management and use of firecrackers.

Families, schools, local authorities and mass organisations should launch dissemination campaigns to raise awareness of the dangers of mixing chemicals, especially in making firecrackers, Hung said.

Using firecrackers during Tet was one of the long-standing traditions of Vietnamese. However, in 1994, Vietnam’s Government prohibited the production, distribution, use and storage of firecrackers after their rampant use resulted in many deaths, injuries and losses totalling several dozen billion dong every year. VNS

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