The information release provides a statistical examination of the people reporting to the Accident & Emergency Departments, as a result of an injury caused by a firework.
The information release is published on the Departmental website at http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/stats_research/stats-activity_stats-2/firework_statistics.htm
Notes to editors:
1. Key Points – Halloween period 2009.
The key findings presented in the statistics release are listed below.
- 30 persons were injured over the Halloween period of the year 2009, a decrease of 2 (6%) from the 2008 figure (Table 1).
- 73% of persons injured over the Halloween period attended an Accident and Emergency Department or Minor Injuries Unit between 31st October and 6th November 2009 (Figure 2).
- 80% of those injured were male (Table 1).
- 53% of those injured were aged under 18 (Table 2).
- There were no fatalities.
- The most common sites of injury were to the wrist or hand (56% of all injuries) and the eye (13% of all injuries) (Table 4).
- 27% required no further treatment, 27% were asked to revisit the A&E department, 17% were referred to a GP and 13% of persons injured were referred for Outpatients treatment (Table 5).
2. This information is collected via a special manual exercise carried out by A&E staff. It is conducted around a fixed four or five week period in order to minimise the data collection burden on staff and to ensure comparability from year to year. It does not therefore include injuries from fireworks outside the survey period and will not include injuries, which were not sufficiently serious to warrant attendance at an A&E Department or Minor Injuries Unit. Recording of information on the place where injury occurred and type of firework involved was not mandatory.
3. All persons reporting to hospital Accident and Emergency Departments and Minor Injuries Units for the first time with an injury caused directly by fireworks are included in the return. Follow-up attendances at Accident and Emergency Departments and attendances at Minor Injuries Units on referral from Accident and Emergency Departments are not included.
4. The return for the year 2009 covered a four-week period from Saturday 17 October to Saturday 14 November inclusive. Information for previous years reported in this release covers four or five week periods around Halloween.
5. Additional Information
Further information on Fireworks Injuries Statistics is available from:
Hospital Information Branch
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Annexe 2, Castle Buildings
Stormont, BT4 3SQ
Tel: 028 90 522504
Fax: 028 90 523288
Email: mailto:hib@dhsspsni.gov.uk
Internet: http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/stats_research/stats-activity_stats-2/firework_statistics.htm
6. Media queries to DHSSPS Press Office on 028 90 520571. Out of office hours please contact Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
