Helsinki City Rescue Department's checklist for New Year celebrations

The Helsinki City Rescue Department is on standby 24/7, which means that both our emergency rescue and prehospital emergency care services will be available on New Year's Eve as well.

The Helsinki City Rescue Department is on standby 24/7, which means that both our emergency rescue and prehospital emergency care services will be available on New Year's Eve as well.

We put together a checklist for New Year celebrations:

• When handling fireworks, always follow the safety instructions provided by the seller and emergency services. Remember your safety goggles!
• Celebrate without too much alcohol or other intoxicants.
• If you see someone who needs help, don’t leave them alone, whether you know them or not.
• Provide help yourself, if you can. Only call 112 in an urgent emergency.
• Let the authorities do their job in peace.

In Helsinki, the use of fireworks is banned in a designated area in the city centre. The fireworks ban area is marked on the map (in Finnish):

The purpose of the fireworks ban area is to improve safety and reduce damage to people, buildings and other property.

Fireworks may be fired, except in the city centre, from 18.00 on 31 December to 02.00 on 1 January.

Instructions and frequently asked questions regarding the use of New Year's fireworks can be found on the Tukes (Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency) website.

We’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions and answers about New Year fireworks. 

The Helsinki City Rescue Department will be conducting intensified public communications on New Year's Eve and night. You can follow the Rescue Department’s New Year on our Instagram channel (stadinbrankkari).

For more information on the New Year celebrations in Helsinki, please visit the website.