Six consecutive emergency cases of multiple injuries due to firecracker explosions were treated in the first week of 2026.

(Chinhphu.vn) - Recently, especially during the 2026 New Year's holiday, Viet Duc Friendship Hospital has continuously received many emergency cases due to firework accidents. This is an extremely dangerous accident.

Patients injured in firework accidents are being treated at Viet Duc Friendship Hospital - Photo: VGP

During the 2026 New Year's holiday, Viet Duc Friendship Hospital admitted a 15-year-old patient from Thai Nguyen with extremely severe multiple injuries due to a firework accident. Upon admission, the patient had crushed forearms on both hands, burns to the face and lower legs, and burns to the anterior chest, posing a life-threatening risk and likely resulting in serious long-term consequences.

Doctors urgently assessed the injuries, activated a multidisciplinary emergency protocol, and mobilized resuscitation, orthopedic, burn, and ophthalmology teams to treat the patient simultaneously. Resuscitation, pain management, infection prevention, and maximum preservation of function were urgently implemented in a race against time to save the patient's life.

Another case involved patient NHT (31 years old, from Hung Yen province ) who was transferred from a lower-level hospital in a state of complex multiple injuries, including an open head wound, subdural hematoma, severe maxillofacial trauma with fractured jawbone, cheekbone, and nose, as well as damage to both eyes. Upon receiving the patient, Viet Duc Friendship Hospital activated a red alert, mobilizing three specialized surgical teams – neurosurgery, maxillofacial surgery, and ophthalmology – for emergency treatment.

A 61-year-old patient from Hung Yen province was admitted to the hospital with complex maxillofacial injuries, eye injuries, and burns to the entire skin of the neck and face. Under the direction of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hong Ha, Head of the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, and the emergency team, they quickly performed bone fixation surgery and reconstructive surgery to treat the maxillofacial wounds, preserving function and restoring aesthetics for the patient. Thanks to timely transfer to the hospital and emergency treatment, after surgery and intensive treatment, the patient is now conscious and their mental health is gradually stabilizing.

In reality, there are cases where patients or their family members provide false information about the cause of the accident, affecting the diagnosis process - Photo: VGP

Failing to truthfully report the cause of the accident will affect the diagnostic process.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Luu Quang Thuy, Director of the Center for Anesthesia and Surgical Resuscitation, and Head of the Intensive Care Unit 2 at Viet Duc Friendship Hospital, accidents caused by firecrackers often result in very severe injuries and rapid progression. Many patients are admitted in a state of shock, respiratory failure, and significant blood loss, requiring immediate resuscitation and emergency anesthesia.

Surgery is not only about saving lives but also about minimizing long-term complications. In reality, even if patients survive, many still suffer from lifelong disabilities.

Currently, many instructions on how to make firecrackers at home using easily available materials are still circulating on social media, posing a particularly serious risk of accidents. In fact, the number of firecracker-related accidents tends to increase significantly around the Lunar New Year. During this year's New Year's holiday alone, Viet Duc Friendship Hospital received nearly a dozen emergency cases due to firecracker explosions, with some days seeing multiple cases in a single night, according to Dr. Nguyen Hoang Quan, Department of Upper Limb Surgery and Sports Medicine, Viet Duc Friendship Hospital.

Notably, in the emergency room, there have been cases where patients or their families falsely reported the cause of the accident, claiming it was due to a mini gas cylinder explosion. However, after examination and assessment of the extent of the injuries, doctors determined that the injuries were not commensurate with a typical household accident, and the wounds still contained a lot of dust and foreign objects characteristic of firecrackers. Experts believe that concealing the cause stems from a fear of violating the law, but this can affect the diagnosis, treatment, and epidemiological statistics of the accident.

Based on the numerous firework-related accidents reported during the 2026 New Year's holiday, Associate Professor Dr. Luu Quang Thuy advises the public, especially young people and parents, to absolutely refrain from manufacturing, buying, selling, storing, or using fireworks. This not only poses a serious risk of accidents that threaten lives, but is also a violation of the law, potentially resulting in administrative penalties or criminal prosecution under current regulations.

The government has issued Decree No. 137/2020/ND-CP on the management and use of fireworks, which strictly prohibits the production, trading, storage, and use of explosive fireworks in any form.

HM

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/cap-cuu-lien-tiep-6-ca-da-chan-thuong-do-phao-no-ngay-tuan-dau-tien-nam-2026-102260114092756363.htm