Question reference: S3W-17549
- Asked by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 5 November 2008
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Current status: Answered by Shona Robison on 13 November 2008
Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of firework-related injuries occurred among (a) under-16s, (b) 16 to 20-year-olds and (c) over-20s, in each of the last five years for which information is available.
Answer
Table 1 shows injuries caused by fireworks that required treatment in accident and emergency departments and burns/plastic surgery units in Scotland during the 33-day survey period around the fifth of November 2001 to 2005 (the most recent five years available) by age group.
Table 1
| Age Group (Years) | Survey Year | ||||
| 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | |
| 0 to 15 | 51 (58.0%) | 66 (55.9%) | 32 (45.1%) | 30 (44.8%) | 46 (50.0%) |
| 16 to 20 | 12 (13.6%) | 12 (10.2%) | 14 (19.7%) | 11 (16.4%) | 11 (12.0%) |
| 21+ | 25 (28.4%) | 40 (33.9%) | 25 (35.2%) | 26 (38.8%) | 35 (38.0%) |
Source: ISD Scotland, DTI Fireworks Injuries Survey 2005.
A small number of individuals are admitted to hospital as a result of a firework related injury. Table 2 shows the number and proportion of hospital admissions as a result of a firework-related injury, broken down by age group, for financial years 2003-04 to 2007-08.
Table 2
| Age Group (Years) | Financial Year of Discharge | ||||
| 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-082 | |
| 0 to 15 | 4 (44.4%) | 3 (20.0%) | 5 (62.5%) | 2 (28.6%) | 6 (50.0%) |
| 16 to 20 | 3 (33.3%) | 4 (26.7%) | 0 | 3 (42.9%) | 2 (16.7%) |
| 21+ | 2 (22.2%) | 8 (53.3%) | 3 (37.5%) | 2 (28.6%) | 4 (33.3%) |
Source: ISD Scotland (SMR01).