First Aid & Fireworks
IRC were asked to provide first aid at an organised fireworks display. Full safety assessments had been carried out and all was in order.
General advice to those attending included an appeal not to bring sparklers. Many were to ignore this advice and almost as soon as they entered the display area ignited them. For one 5 year old this seemingly safe activity was to end in almost tragedy.
The young girl was wearing a jacket with a fake fur type collar, possibly made from nylon. As her dad ignited the sparklers and she played with it, the collar of her jacket ignited, flashing up into her face and hair.
Her dad, having the reactions of a cat, knocked her to the ground, putting out the flames and removing the jacket. When we examined the girl she had superficial burns to her neck (and will need a new hair style). The burns were treated with a proprietary burns care product and the girl and dad were given time to calm down before going home with instructions on burn care and advice to visit medical help if required. This could have been so much worse had the dad not reacted so quickly.
PLEASE DO NOT GIVE YOUNG CHILDREN SPARKLERS AND DO NOT TAKE THEM TO EVENTS WHERE SUBSTANTIAL NUMBERS OF PEOPLE MAY BE NEAR TO YOU.