Klaus Reinhardt, president of the German Medical Association, urges politicians to ban private New Year's Eve fireworks to protect the public from injuries. He highlights risks to bystanders, animals, and war refugees, as well as environmental damage from fireworks. A petition with over 2.2 million signatures backs this proposal.
In the ongoing debate over New Year's Eve fireworks, Klaus Reinhardt, president of the German Medical Association, has called on federal and state interior ministers to take decisive action. "The interior ministers at federal and state levels must finally act and protect the population from the dangers of fireworks," he told the RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland.
Reinhardt lists several reasons for banning uncontrolled private fireworks: They cause severe injuries and burns each year, especially among children and adolescents suffering from blast traumas. Hospital emergency rooms are overwhelmed, and statutory health insurers bear millions in costs. Moreover, fireworks are often misused against police, firefighters, and rescue services. "Unregulated fireworks repeatedly lead to severe injuries even among bystanders, they frighten many people, harm the climate, and generate enormous waste," Reinhardt stated.
He views the situation as particularly sensitive for the over one million war refugees from countries like Ukraine, Syria, or the Gaza Strip. Many associate loud explosions with bombs and grenades, triggering mortal fears. Reinhardt deems organized displays at public venues acceptable, but the "wild fireworks" must stop. "This has nothing to do with a ban culture, but demonstrates the insight of a mature society to abandon something dangerous," he emphasized.
The proposal gains support from a petition by the police union, which has gathered more than 2.2 million signatures. A survey indicates that the majority of Germans favor such a ban.
