Impact of government pyrotechnics ban on emergency department usage rates around the turn of the years.

PURPOSE: Annual discussions concerning emergency department (ED) utilization during New Year due to avoidable emergencies and potential "pyrotechnic bans" often highlight media reports of severe injuries. However, limited data exist on the ED burden and specific injury patterns. This study aimed to investigate firework-related ED cases in Germany around the turn of the year owing to the pyrotechnic ban during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

Data from the AKTIN Emergency Department Data Registry were analysed between 2019 and 2023. Cases on New Year's Eve (compared with Saturdays) and New Year (compared with Sundays) were averaged. The results were stratified by year and evaluated to determine the impact of pandemic-related pyrotechnics and gathering bans. We conducted a descriptive analysis of emergency department (ED) visits based on patient characteristics, length of stay (LOS), presenting complaints using the CEDIS-PCL and selected diagnosis-group (ICD-10). Statistical significance was assessed using chi-square or Fisher's exact test (p < 0.05), and effect sizes were estimated using Cohen's w and phi.

RESULTS

31 emergency departments participated in the data query, but three emergency departments had to be excluded due to duplicates in the dataset. Analysis of 134,763 cases from 28 EDs revealed fewer cases on New Year's Eve and more on New Year than on Saturdays and Sundays, respectively, with no significant change in length of stay. During New Year, there was a higher incidence of skin-, otorhinolaryngologist-, and orthopedics/trauma-related complaints. A slight increase in head injury diagnoses (ICD-10 codes) was observed. The pandemic-related firework bans did not affect ED utilization or injury patterns.

CONCLUSION

The firework ban during the COVID-19 pandemic did not lead to a relevant reduction in overall emergency department utilization or injury patterns around New Year. Case numbers showed consistent temporal peaks between midnight and early morning hours across all years, including during the ban. A slight increase in cases after the ban was lifted does not indicate a substantial change in ED burden.