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Safety at Halloween
The
South Eastern Health Board is calling on parents and young people to
be extra vigilant in relation to personal safety during the
Halloween period. Fireworks
are effectively illegal in Ireland; most of the illegal fireworks
and bangers on sale in markets and from street traders throughout
the country are sub-standard and liable to cause injury.
Bonfires
are a big part of Halloween and often contain highly combustible
materials that can cause respiratory problems and burns.
Halloween and the preceding weekend are the busiest time of
the year for the fire services and are extremely hectic for
ambulance and hospital services.
Parents
are also advised to ensure that their children are accompanied
whilst visiting houses to seek Halloween treats.
It is particularly important that children’s fancy dress
outfits to not contribute to accidents, long outfits can sometimes
cause children to trip and fall.
Masks should not obscure vision, reduce hearing or interfere
with normal breathing.
Joe
Drea, Fire Safety Officer says, "Illegal fireworks are
manufactured without safety standards and can cause serious damage
to children. Parents
should monitor their children and ensure they do not play with
fireworks. Every year children end up tragically injured and often
scarred for life. Bonfires
are also another cause for concern and I would urge parents to make
sure that their children do not attend unsupervised bonfires.
We’re not trying to be killjoys but we do not want anyone
to be injured or killed whilst celebrating Halloween."
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