During the recent New Year’s celebrations, at least 187 individuals sustained eye injuries due to fireworks, according to a report by the Dutch Ophthalmological Society. This is the highest number of such injuries in ten years, with children accounting for half of the cases.
One-third of the injured have permanent damage, with fifteen eyes blinded and six surgically removed. In 40% of cases, the victims were not the ones setting off the fireworks.
The association of ophthalmologists notes that these are preliminary figures, and final statistics will be released in April. The numbers are comparable to those from five years ago (2019-2020), when 182 people were injured, and higher than last year’s figure of 169.
More than half of the injuries were caused by legal fireworks, while illegal fireworks accounted for 8%. Dutch ophthalmologists continue to advocate for a ban on consumer fireworks, labeling them extremely unsafe.
Despite fireworks bans in 19 municipalities, including Utrecht, Tilburg, and Alkmaar, many people ignored the restrictions.
Source: NOS