Five-year-old girl suffers burns in fireworks accident

Abu Dhabi: A five-year-old girl has been left with painful second-degree burns on her chest and scars for life after playing with fireworks during the Eid holidays, Gulf News has learnt.

The accident took place while the child was out with her relatives.

Aisha Legge, 38, said her daughter had sustained a 2.5 centimetre by 2.5 centimetre second-degree burn on her chest because the firework she had been playing with exploded unexpectedly at the wrong end.

The child's mother urged residents not to buy fireworks illegally and pleaded with authorities to clamp down on shopkeepers who sell them.

The incident happened on the second day of Eid.

"I was not with my daughter when the accident occurred, and I would never have let her play with these dangerous playthings if I had been around," said Aisha, an Emirati national of British origin.

"The doctors told me the scar will remain for life, and that two layers of her skin have been harmed."

Aisha also said her daughter was now afraid of loud noises since the accident, and in a lot of pain when dressings for her burns needed to be changed every day.

"I hate to see my child in so much pain, and I urge government authorities to clamp down on the people who sell fireworks," Aisha said.

"Allowing fireworks to be sold is like allowing accidents to occur," Aisha said.

Another resident in the capital, M. Mohammad, 20, said he had noticed eight or nine young boys playing with fireworks on the first day of Eid.

"It was in the afternoon and the children were completely unsupervised. What was even more risky is that the boys were leaving the fireworks on the road, so the fireworks could have hurt anyone passing by," Mohammad said.

Despite a ban on the sale and personal use of fireworks, Abu Dhabi police said they anticipated an increased use of fireworks during the last 10 days of Ramadan and during the Eid holidays. In an effort to curb this, the police conducted an awareness campaign to warn residents of the dangers of fireworks.

Colonel Humaid Al Afreet, director of firearms and explosives department at Abu Dhabi police, said: "Accidents involving fireworks have reduced over the years, due to an increased number of inspections and awareness campaigns".

Fireworks found in warehouses during inspections were immediately confiscated, he said.

Fireworks are listed as explosives and hence their possession without permission is a punishable offence under Federal Law number 3 of 2009, which deals with firearms, ammunition and explosives.

"Playing with fireworks could lead to permanent deformities, severe injuries and even death," Colonel Al Afreet warned, adding that families play a significant role in preventing youngsters from using them.

Help at hand: Call the police

The public can report any incidents to the police confidentially by calling 8002626 or by sending a text message to 2828.

How can such accidents be avoided? Would you report an illegal sale of firecrackers? Why or why not?