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25th October 2011 • Volume 18, Issue 31 • Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. • ISDN 8139966 • Tel: 8•400•200
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Don’t Become A Statistic This Halloween! H
alloween is the time of the year that many parents dread. The kids are full of excitement and they exude an air of invincibility about them. Year after year we hear of severe hand or facial injuries sustained by young and not so young children at Halloween. Many of these injuries are caused by by illegal fireworks and bangers, which are unregulated and are generally unsafe and have been bought on the black market for exuberant prices. They are not regulated and don’t conform to standards and are cheap, smuggled goods. It is not uncommon for fingers to be severed by the force of a banger held in the hand. The importance of parental guidance cannot be overestimated in this regard. The County Leader spoke to members of Swords Youth Service who were quick to advise youngsters of the dangers associated with fireworks and bangers. One of them, Thomas McDonagh explained what happens at a bonfire. “Kids carry flammable items from
By Patrick Finnegan
one of the lads on the neck. It clung to him, but he wasn’t badly hurt, but he could have been - he was lucky,” said Thomas. The following year, there was a fireworks display on the green beside St Colmcille’s GAA pitch and it was safe and great fun,” said Thomas. This story certainly resonates with Swords Fire Station officer, John McNally who spoke to the County Leader about some horrific injuries he has witnessed at Halloween. “I remember the worst injury I saw was to a young boy, aged about nine. It happened about 15 years ago and a banger exploded and the fire hit him in the face. Unfortunately, he lost his eye in the incident, despite all of our best efforts.” John went on to explain the ease at which an eye can be lost. “Vitreous Humour is a gel or fluid in the eye and is the only fluid in the body that does not replace itself - hence any injury in that department will most likely lead to the eye being damaged beyond repair,” said John chillingly. “The normal injury when an unregulated banger explodes in a child’s hand is the loss or severe injury to the hand, particularly the thumb. Imagine trying to live life without your thumb there would be no more X Box games or Playstations.” As Adam Logue from Swords Youth Service explained, “Nobody sets Pictured are members of Swords Youth Service, Thomas McDonagh, Hannah Reel, Chris Barker and Adam Logue, who were vocal in their advice to youngsters to be vigilant this out to be malicious, its just youngsters being Halloween. excited, but they need to building sites, like plastic and other dangerous items be extra vigilant and take nothing for granted.” - as much as they can get their hands on. One year, Halloween can be a very enjoyable festival for famiwe had a bonfire close to my home and some lads lies and fun games can be enjoyed by all. The had already placed fireworks in the bonfire before it important thing is to be mindful at all times about was lit. When the fire was lit, others came along and where your children are and know about their threw more black cat and screamers into the fire. whereabouts at all times. This way they will not Plastic, which was in the fire then shot out and hit become an unfortunate statistic of Halloween.
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