Fireworks mishaps in New York have led to several eye injuries across Finland | Yle News

One of the more serious cases involved a child under 15 who set off a firework in his hand, suffering severe eye burns that required immediate surgery overnight.

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Fireworks caused at least 11 eye injuries across the country during New Year’s Eve celebrations. By noon on New Year’s Day, six patients were being treated at the Eye Clinic of the Helsinki University Hospital (HUS).

According to a senior HUS ophthalmologist, the accidents occurred in Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Porvoo and Häme Tero Kivelä.

Five of the six cases were mild and the wounds are expected to heal well. The injured include two children under 15, two teenagers under 18 and two adults over 35.

The most serious case involved a child who set off a spherical explosive found on a school playground while attempting to set himself on fire. The explosion caused severe burns to the child’s eye, requiring surgery overnight.

One of the most serious cases involved a child under 15 years of age who, together with his friends, discovered a spherical firework on the school playground. While trying to light it, the firework exploded in the child’s hand, causing severe eye burns that required immediate surgery during the night. The child also suffered burns to his hands and face, but his other eye was not injured.

“In the case of severe burns, the final result is usually only visible after several months,” Kivelä said.

Three of the six patients were witnesses hit by fireworks. Only one adult patient was drinking alcohol at the time of the accident.

“None of the injured were wearing protective glasses. Most likely, if that had been the case, the injuries would have been less serious,” Kivelä said.

Last year, eight cases of eye injuries were reported in the HUS region as of noon on New Year’s Day.

More injuries were reported

National data on New Year’s Eve eye injuries from fireworks will only be available at the end of January, after hospitals complete a survey conducted by Kivelä. Last year, at least nine people across the country required hospital care for eye injuries caused by fireworks.

In Jyväskylä, Nova Hospital treated three young men overnight for eye injuries caused by fireworks

Oulu University Hospital reported no fireworks-related eye injuries to the emergency department. However, the hospital experienced overcrowding due to substance poisoning, accidents and assault injuries, the doctor said Emma Leppänen.

“We have seen numerous cases of poisoning and injuries caused by accidents or attacks,” Leppänen explained.

In Pirkanmaa and Varsinais-Suomi, one serious eye injury from fireworks was reported in each region.