HUS emergency departments in Finland report a seasonal increase in injuries linked to summer activities, according to new data from the hospital district. Outdoor hobbies, cycling, and DIY projects are among the most frequent causes of injuries treated since the beginning of the summer.
The number of adult emergency visits has remained at typical levels across most of the seven joint emergency departments. Only the Jorvi unit has experienced above-average trauma cases.
Jani Mononen, chief physician, said no single injury type dominated early summer. “Injuries typical for summer include those from sports, cycling, and home renovation or woodworking activities,” he said.
In orthopaedics and hand surgery, the summer has been busy. The situation resembled winter months, when icy conditions often lead to a surge in trauma surgeries. Earlier this summer, over 100 patients were waiting for surgical treatment in these departments, but the backlog has now largely cleared and services have returned to normal levels.
Face fractures have remained common, with assaults again being the leading cause this summer. Although overall numbers of facial injuries have risen, there have been no exceptional peaks in emergency visits.
Based on trends from previous years, the first two weekends of July and the month of August are expected to be the busiest periods for trauma care.
Johanna Snäll, chief physician in oral and maxillofacial surgery, said one change was notable. “It’s encouraging that e-scooter accidents are no longer a major cause of facial fractures. Restrictions seem to have had a clear impact compared to previous years.”
Children’s emergency departments have also experienced a busy start to the summer. In May, over 700 surgical patients were treated at the New Children’s Hospital. Typical injuries include upper limb fractures and head trauma.
Elina Wärnhjelm, department physician, said most child injuries involved falls and accidents during outdoor play. “These include falling from climbing frames, skateboarding or cycling accidents, and injuries on trampolines or e-scooters,” she said.
Since June, a new law prohibits e-scooter use for those under 15. In cases where injuries involve underage users, hospital staff assess safety concerns and determine whether a child welfare report is needed.
After Midsummer, the number of child patients has decreased, following the usual seasonal pattern. A second surge is expected when schools reopen.
HT
Summer accidents spike in HUS emergency care
Meilahti campus area. Photo: Mikko Hinkkanen / HUS
Tools
Typography
- Font Size
- Default
- Reading Mode
