The boy and his friends pooled money to buy the firecracker online for about 500,000 VND. After the incident, the boy was rushed to a hospital in Dong Nai for emergency treatment, then transferred to Nhi Dong 2 Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.

On 10/1, doctor Ngo Hong Phuc, Head of the Burns and Reconstructive Surgery Department at Nhi Dong 2 Hospital, stated the patient suffered second and third-degree flame burns. The injury covered almost his entire face over a large area, with a risk of skin necrosis. If the skin necrosis progresses, the patient may need surgery for debridement and skin grafting. If there is no deep necrosis, the child will receive conservative treatment combined with physical therapy. After the critical phase, the patient will also require functional rehabilitation and psychological support.

"When the burns heal, the face is unlikely to return to its original state, and the child may face hypertrophic scars, contracture scars, and prolonged itching for months," the doctor said. Facial burns easily cause eyelid contracture, lip locking, distorted mouth corners, and long-term impact on both function and aesthetics.

Doctors at Nhi Dong 2 Hospital treat the patient. *Photo: Quynh Tran*

Each year during Tet, the hospital admits many firecracker-related accident cases. Homemade firecrackers are highly dangerous due to uncontrolled flammable chemicals. Burns from homemade firecrackers often cause deep injuries, leaving lifelong contracture scars. The blast pressure can crush hands, cause blindness, or lead to intracranial injury, resulting in permanent disability.

Doctors advise parents not to allow children to use illegal firecrackers. They should clearly explain accident risks, long-term consequences, and potential disabilities to help children understand the danger. Families must closely monitor children's Internet use and online shopping to prevent them from researching and purchasing materials or homemade firecrackers.

In case of a firecracker accident, quickly extinguish the fire. Cool the burns with clean water for at least 15-20 minutes to reduce temperature and pain. Gently cover the wound with clean gauze or cloth (do not bandage too tightly). Take the victim to the nearest medical facility immediately.

Le Phuong