FIRECRACKERS have started appearing in the local market in view of the coming Hari Raya celebration.
Children and adults can easily buy them from roadside stalls and at Ramadan bazaars.
Parents and the authorities should be on the highest alert because firecrackers can cause serious damage to the body, including permanent injury and death. The environment and surroundings can also be affected.
Firecrackers are usually made from cardboard or plastic with flash powder as the explosive material.
In a recent case that went viral on the social network, a 4-year-old boy suffered severe injuries to his left hand when playing “A-Boom” firecrackers near his house in Tanjung Sepat, Kuala Langat, Selangor.
Parents and the authorities should play their roles to ensure these accidents do not happen again.
Children need to be made aware of the dangers of firecrackers.
Parents should not encourage their children to play with firecrackers despite the latter’s insistence and should constantly monitor their activities to ensure their safety.
The authorities, too, have a responsibility to act against illegal firecracker sellers.
Major action is needed to nip the problem in the bud and prevent tragedies.
Abdullah Ismail, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu