Emergency services ZNA receive 11 patients with injuries from fireworks (Antwerp)
Last night, the three emergency departments of the Antwerp hospital network ZNA treated a total of eleven people who were injured by fireworks. It mainly concerns burns and injuries to the hands and face. One person is in serious condition and is on serious concerns.
Also this New Year’s Eve, many Antwerp residents ignored the ban on setting off their own fireworks. They also noticed this at the three emergency departments of ZNA, in the Jan Palfijn, Middelheim and Stuivenberg hospitals. “We have a total of eleven patients with accidents involving fireworks,” says Tom Van de Vreken.
Most of them are hand injuries or burns on the face or on the hands. They got the chance to make fireworks with their hands exploded. “Most people entered ZNA Stuivenberg,” says Van de Vreken. “One person is very off his feet and is on serious concerns.”
More than a hundred patients passed through the three emergency departments between midnight and 8 a.m., a number that was within expectations. In addition to the fireworks accidents, the hospitals received a lot of people with alcohol intoxication. “At ZNA Stuivenberg there were 25, which is three times more than during other weekend nights.” Injuries with shards of glass also happen more often on New Year’s Eve. According to ZNA, there are a considerable number of patients with flu symptoms.