The Department of Public Safety has released the 2024 New Year's Eve data, compiled by the Department of Public Safety, regarding the results of the services established for the prevention and detection of accidents resulting from the use of fireworks, accompanied by summary tables and graphs.
The data collection was carried out, as usual, using the computerized analysis support procedure called RISe.C. The data relating to incidents that occurred during the 2024 New Year's Eve celebrations unfortunately included one fatal event: in Naples, a 45-year-old woman in the municipality of Afragola was struck in the temple by a loose bullet during the celebrations, likely fired by a member of the same family.
The woman was rushed to Cardarelli Hospital with a critical prognosis, but later died. Injuries: The total number of injuries is 274, including 12 from firearms and 262 from fireworks.
This year, there were 49 hospitalizations. The data shows an increase compared to last year, when there were 180 injuries and 48 hospitalizations. Regarding minors who sustained injuries, there was an increase, with 64 minors suffering injuries, compared to 50 last year.
As many as 64 minors injured by firecrackers
Furthermore, the projection for serious injuries increased, with two cases with a prognosis of more than forty days due to gunshot wounds, compared to one case the previous year. There were also 2 cases with a prognosis of more than forty days due to fireworks, compared to ten cases the previous year.
Finally, the projections for minor injuries showed the same figures as last year: 10 cases with a prognosis of less than or equal to forty days due to firearm injuries, while the 159 cases with a prognosis of less than or equal to forty days due to fireworks have increased to the current 232 cases. Once again, the most serious incidents must be traced back to the misuse of pyrotechnic products, often illegal.
Of particular note are the following incidents that occurred: Napoli: a 50-year-old woman arrived at the emergency room after being hit by a gunshot to the side while she was watching New Year's Eve celebrations on the balcony of her home. She is in a reserved prognosis and in danger of life; still in Naples: a 50-year-old Algerian citizen, while walking in the street, was hit by a bullet that hit him in the shoulder and reached the lung. The injured man is in a reserved prognosis awaiting surgery.
In Foggia, a 47-year-old man suffered injuries resulting in multiple amputations to the fingers of his left hand and second-degree burns following a firecracker explosion. Also in Foggia, a 17-year-old boy suffered the amputation of his left hand following a homemade firecracker explosion, with a prognosis of 30 days.
In Grosseto, a firecracker exploded during an outdoor celebration, injuring three minors. The most serious victim was a 3-year-old boy, who suffered the almost complete amputation of his left hand and abrasions to his face and chest. Given the severity of his injuries, he was transported to Careggi Hospital in Florence.
In Milan, an 18-year-old Egyptian man lost fingers on both hands following a fireworks explosion. Also in Milan, a 36-year-old man was admitted to Legnano Hospital with a critical prognosis and suffered third-degree burns to his hands and face after handling gunpowder while attempting to create a homemade artifact.
Also in Milan: A Filipino minor suffered a trauma to her left hand while handling an air gun, with a prognosis of 30 days. In Siena, a 15-year-old was urgently transported to Careggi Hospital in Florence for serious injuries to his hand following a firecracker explosion in the municipality of Poggibonsi. The prognosis is guarded.
In Latina: three minors aged 15, 10 and 6, during celebrations in the garden of their home in Terracina, while setting off a battery of fireworks, suffered injuries to their faces and legs that were deemed curable in 30, 15 and 10 days respectively;
In L'Aquila: in the municipality of Pacentro, a 20-year-old Roman man, while out with three friends, was injured in his right hand by a firecracker. He was transported to Sulmona Hospital and underwent surgery to reconstruct the limb.
Prognosis greater than 40 days; in Varese: a 17-year-old minor suffered the amputation of his right hand and an injury to his left eye following the explosion of a firecracker; in Trento: a 54-year-old Moroccan man suffered the amputation of the third ray of his eye after picking up an unexploded firecracker; also in Trento: a 23-year-old Moldovan man lost his left hand following the explosion of a so-called "onion" firecracker; in Lucca: a 15-year-old minor lost his thumb and index finger while using a firecracker.
From the communications sent by the peripheral offices (in addition to the individual data entered into the RISe.C. reporting system) and from the data deducible from open sources relating to accidents with injuries caused by the explosion of pyrotechnic products, it is noted that: the typical pathologies produced by the explosion of pyrotechnic products with a "bursting effect" are confirmed to be trauma to the hands and face.
Eye injuries and fractures and/or amputations of fingers and/or phalanges are common. Restrictive measures and seizures: during the survey period, which covered the entire month of December 2023, 304 people were reported at large, an increase from last year's 273, and 50 people were arrested, up from 35 in December 2022.
EDITORIAL TEAM
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