The Hazards of Pyrotechnics

With Christmas just weeks away, kids in almost every neighborhood will be setting off firecrackers, whistle dynamite, and fireworks. While these pyrotechnics are a holiday tradition, they can be a real nuisance for the elderly, young babies, and pets. More importantly, they can be very dangerous for those setting them off and anyone nearby. The Belize Fire Department warns that firecrackers can even start fires that could destroy your property. Today, a shocking image circulated of a child who was seriously injured when a firecracker exploded, likely under a pan or box. The child’s mother took to Facebook, pleading with parents to supervise their kids who might want to play with firecrackers. Her child ended up in the hospital with stitches in his legs after the explosion. The story goes that the child placed dynamite under a can and lit it. The blast shattered the can, and a piece of metal cut the child’s leg, causing a deep gash. Thankfully, the metal didn’t hit the child’s face. Gladstone Bucknor, Fire Station Supervisor for the Belize District, pointed out that while firecrackers have been a tradition for decades, the amount of gunpowder in them now is much higher than it used to be, making them even more dangerous to play with.

 

Gladstone Bucknor, Belize District Station Supervisor, Belize Fire Service

“Most of the firecrackers, the one that blows up, if you put that with some kind of petrol, it can be very dangerous. You’re looking at a small bomb. Growing up, yes, we do things that; now that the firecrackers are getting much heavier in, in gunpowder. So, back then it wasn’t like that. We see kids putting them in  bottles and see them explode, which can release fragments and hit you, and that is very dangerous, and it can affect you physically. The whistle dynamic can – you can’t direct the path for that and wherever it goes, it could not only be curtain, it could be into your vehicle onto anything that is flammable that can catch fire. Stay in an open area if you want to practice those things. Make sure that you don’t put it in any bottles or anything that can You know, release fragments from those, um, firecrackers. You want to do fireworks, do it in an open area. Fireworks let go particles that can land on houses, and depending on where you live, and you feel the breeze that is blowing here, it can cause damage.”

 

Marion Ali

“Can it ignite a fire?”

 

Gladstone Bucknor

“Particles, some particles, depending on the type of firecracker, fireworks, yes, they can.”