Fireworks injuries still afflict the smallest in El Salvador



Despite the efforts of campaigns like the video above to keep fireworks away from children, the tragedy continues. Thirteen children were hospitalized with burns from fireworks over Christmas Eve in El Salvador. The tragic injuries to children occur year after year as a result of the tradition of shooting off fireworks on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve.

It's probably unrealistic to think this issue will change any time soon. But maybe if there is greater awareness of the human cost, more publicity campaigns, and parents who take responsibility, these holiday tragedies will begin to diminish.

Comments

Tambopaxi said…
Tim, Things can change. I lived in El Sal for years, and did xmas/new year's fireworks for more years than that. I've lived Ecuador for the last eight years, and when I got here in 2001, the fireworks situation was pretty much like that in El Sal. In Quito, however, thanks for to aggressive pr programs and law enforcement at the behest of the city's mayor, all, repeat all, fireworks stands were shut down. As well, the police went after the manufacturers and wholesalers (i.e., they went up the supply chain to wipe it out). I have to admit that there are manufacturers still out there, and fireworks are still used, but it's nothing like in previous years, and injuries to kids to few to nil. I don't know how the new SS mayor is, but I think it makes sense for him to mount an aggressive municipal anti-fireworks program of his own...
8:40 PM
Anonymous said…
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4:45 PM
Anonymous said…
I have a counterpoint.

People will call me crazy for saying this but in most cases its the kids own fault. Let me elaborate. I've been burnt in the past, quite badly, and why? I was an idiot. Thats about it. The volcancitos are harmless unless you are stupid enough to think that nothing will happen if you hold them in your hand.

Kids under 10 shouldn't be playing with fireworks anyways... and 90% of kids over 10 who get burnt can only blame themselves.

Fireworks in El Salvador are a tradition, not to mention a source of jobs for many many people.

A child being burnt is horrible, but out of the millions of users of fireworks in El Salvador there aren't hundreds or thousands of moderately to severely burnt or dead children. There are 13.

Governmental control is not the answer to this or any problem for that matter. To reduce this 13 children to 0 we can't really on the government. It is the responsibility of the parents. As I stated previously, children under 10 should even use fireworks and children over 10 should be monitored closely by their parents.
4:47 PM
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