Vietnam reports over 18,000 traffic accident emergencies in 5 days of Tet

Across the holiday period, the national health system received 358,024 patient visits for examination and emergency care, including 59,718 cases recorded between 7:00 am on Wednesday and 7:00 am on Thursday.

As of 7:00 am on Thursday, 111,325 patients were undergoing treatment at medical facilities nationwide, while a total of 118,191 patients had been admitted for inpatient care over the five-day period. 

Hospitals performed 2,985 surgeries during the period, including 502 emergency operations due to accidents.

In the aforementioned 24 hours alone, 4,058 traffic accident-related emergency cases were reported, with 1,727 patients requiring hospital admission or monitoring, and 28 suspected traffic-related deaths, including 13 fatalities recorded before arrival at hospital.

Medical facilities also reported 32 cases of examination and emergency care linked to firecrackers and fireworks on the third day of Tet, with 14 hospital admissions, and 19 cases related to weapons or homemade explosives. 

Authorities said firecracker-related incidents declined markedly compared with the same period last year.

In the previous 24 hours, 91 cases of digestive disorders, food poisoning from home-prepared meals or alcohol intoxication were recorded, with 57 patients admitted for monitoring and no deaths reported. 

No mass food poisoning incidents were recorded during the five days, the ministry said.

A total of 2,647 babies were born nationwide in the 24 hours, bringing the total number of births during the holiday to 11,013.

The Ministry of Health said all medical facilities maintained full staffing at four levels of duty, ensuring adequate personnel, medicines, blood supplies and medical equipment to respond to emergencies throughout the holiday, which will end on Sunday.