Trauma surgeon reports hike in serious youth firework injuries this mid-term
At least four young people have required plastic surgery recently as a result of firework handling.
Surgeons here are pleading with the public to avoid home fireworks, after a number of children presented at hospital with serious injuries recently, while services are already crippled by the stress of dealing with covid-19.
Consultant plastic surgeon Dr Alastair Browne says one child he saw in the last week had a near miss that was close to leaving them blind – or worse, dead.
The South Eastern Trust doctor told Downtown Cool FM that least three serious firework related injuries this week involving children, with another occurring shortly before that.
He's urging the avoidance of unnecessary risks with explosive materials in the midst of the pandemic, but fears that with official events axed this year, people will take celebrations - and dangerous fireworks - into their own hands.
"One child had a blast injury close to the face, causing burns and effecting their eye. Such an injury could easily result in losing their sight, or even their life if the firework was closer.
“With the NHS under immense pressure, people need to make a real contribution and maintain the precious resource for those most in need,” he said.
“We don’t want to see patients presenting with these kind of injuries at any time, or under any circumstances.
“This is even more pertinent now, however, when we are very limited in our capacity to deal with the resulting trauma,” the surgeon added.