Firecracker menace

Yet, we shall again issue an appeal for a curb on scratch-bombs, which unlike other fireworks which create a visual display, have a sole purpose of making a very loud “bang” deliberately intended to shock people out of their wits.

The persons who deliberately let off these scratch-bombs near other people’s homes display no regard for the psychological or physiological (bodily) harm that can result to people, including especially vulnerable persons such as the elderly, the ill, babies and pregnant women and their unborn babies. Affected persons suffer sleep-deprivation, irritability, stress and high blood-pressure to name but a few symptoms that had been so well publicised a few years ago by the Environmental Management Authority (EMA). Even worse affected than humans are animals such as dogs and cats whose hearing is many, many times more sensitive than humans, and who on Old Year’s Night are often so panicked by the noise of exploding fireworks that they bolt out of the yards of their homes and run into the road where sadly they often end up being killed by vehicles. And if that is the effect on domestic animals who are accustomed being around humans, what is the fate of wild creatures also subjected to these noisy horrors.

There is also a risk that fireworks and firecrackers in the hands of minors could do them grievous injury, causing loss of hands, eyes or other body parts.

At this late hour in the day we shall appeal to parents and guardians to keep a close rein on their children, such as keeping tabs on who is slipping out to the neighbour parlour and what fare they are sneaking back in with. We urge parlour owners to obey the law and to not sell fireworks and scratch-bombs to minors. Parents must insist that scratch-bombs are not let off near anyone’s house, but if they have to be indulged in then this should be on a neighbourhood playing field away from unwitting neighbours.

Secondly, we urge the police to step up their game. Ahead of occasions such as Old Year’s Night the police should issue a public advisory, notifying people what the law is on fireworks and firecrackers, such as any safe distance from people’s residences where they can be discharged. The police must ensure parlour owners are obeying the law and not selling to minors. Further, the big companies that import fireworks and firecrackers with seeming impunity must be brought to book. In fact we wonder why successive administrations have not had the wherewithal to confront these importers about their harmful products. We would even go so far as to call for a ban on the particularly obnoxious firecrackers.

We would like to hear a public statement from the Government, to say where it stands on this vexing issue. Further, there are many public education campaigns on the ill-effects of fireworks and especially firecrackers that can be run variously by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of National Security, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Community Development.

We appeal to all concerned - the Government, the police, the fireworks importers, the retail parlours and shops, the parents and the children to please encourage responsibility and considerateness in the handling of these devices.

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"Firecracker menace"

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