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Before the New Years celebrations, the tension was related to whether people would choose a more subdued brand than otherwise due to the corona pandemic.
But it was clear from the start that people were coming out of houses to secure the fireworks to say goodbye to 2020 with a bang.
The New Year’s celebration resulted in a host of emergency services for the Naudetatane, various house fires, fireworks, and parties with up to 40 participants.
Ten people to the hospital
The next day, it is clear that ten people across the country sustained eye injuries after a fireworks display on New Year’s Eve.
– Of the ten, three people have suffered very serious injuries, section chief Nils Bull in the eye department of Haukeland University Hospital tells NRK.
This means that they can expect a significant reduction in vision. The other seven have moderately severe eye injuries.
SUPERVISOR: Nils Bull of Haukeland University Hospital compiles a quarterly summary of how many have been treated for eye injuries after New Years celebrations across the country.
Photograph: Ole Kollstrøm Heilevang / NRK
Six men and two women
Bull collects national injury figures each quarter after the New Year celebrations. He tells NRK that wearing glasses has saved more people this year.
– A man experienced the battery exploding when he turned it on, but because he was wearing safety glasses, he received moderately serious eye injuries and burns to his face, Bull said.
Without the glasses, things would have been very bad for his eye. Another man and woman wearing glasses also escaped with moderately serious injuries, it added.
Leaning over the drums
The ten injured are six men, two young men and two women:
- In two of the damage cases, the fireworks battery has tipped over. The one that was moving after ignition.
- In one case, the battery exploded while the fuse was on.
- One person leaned over the battery during power-up as it didn’t catch fire on the first try.
– Three of the injured were supporters, including a woman. The two young children manipulated an electric battery and also suffered bodily injuries, Bull said.
He wants a ban on private fireworks
The number of injuries dropped significantly in the first two years after launching rockets with a joystick was banned before New Years Eve 2008/2009.
But already in 2010/2011 the number rose again. Since then, an average of 16-17 people have suffered eye injuries during the celebration.
This year’s injury rate is actually a slight decrease from last year, when eleven people were sent to the hospital after the New Year celebrations. Later four wounded were reported.
Chief Physician Bull has repeatedly warned against setting off fireworks when one has drunk alcohol. He is also a fervent defender of the ban on private fireworks.
He does not believe that the number of injured will decrease without a penalty. He claims that the usual is too reckless use of fireworks, including lighting indoors and shooting people on purpose.
– I want to get rid of these injuries completely. Ten people injured during this year’s celebration are ten too many, Bull tells NRK.
In 2018, he encouraged men to leave the launch to women.
