Crackdown on firework sales too late for many young kids

A NATIONWIDE  crackdown on the illegal sale of fireworks has come too late for 23 Panamanian children.

Arturo Alvarado director of the National Civil Protection System, (Sinaproc) said Sunday that the amount of fireworks seized so far  in December  would fill a 40 foot container. Efforts to combat illegal sales began December 1 and will continue until January 3. 

But on Monday,  The Ministry of Health (MoH) reported that already 23 children aged from one to 13  have been affected by burns from handling fireworks.

Alvarad called on parents to to take appropriate precautions during the holiday season  to ensure that their children will not suffer from using ,  so-called “bomblets.”

According to statistics from last year at the burns unit at the Hospital del Niño  there were 14 severely burned children from  the use of bomblets, rockets and  sparklers. This year so far they have treated nine severely burned.

According to a press release from the MoH, some of the consequences of burns caused by fireworks are psychomotor disability and depression.

Among the recommendations for burns: Apply an ice pack and go to the nearest health center .

If the burn is small, do not apply ointment or cream and in case of electrical burn, turn off the power source and remove the victim with wood and rubber and remove to the health center.