MEASURES TO TACKLE FIREWORKS MISUSE

15 Oct 2002 04:00 AM

Dangerous 'pocket money' firework to be made illegal

Tough new measures to cut the number of firework injuries including a ban on air bombs - a cheap and accessible 'pocket money' firework that caused up to a fifth of all firework accidents last year - were unveiled by Consumer Minister Melanie Johnson today.

The action plan was launched after the number of injuries among young teenagers rose by more than 50 per cent last year - the biggest increase for at least seven years.

The new measures, which will also cut down on the problems of noise and nuisance, include:

- proposed new regulations banning air bombs;

- a crackdown on illegal markets in fireworks with improved co-ordination of intelligence between Customs and Excise, Health and Safety Executive and Trading Standards Departments; and

- a new drive to encourage local councils to use their powers to curb the problem of noise and nuisance caused by fireworks.

Also:

- Home Office are piloting fixed penalty notices of £40 in four areas for over 18s caught throwing fireworks in the street.

The announcement coincides with the launch of a new hard-hitting national safety campaign.

The campaign's slogan 'fool with fireworks and bang goes your image' will highlight the injuries teenagers have suffered from fireworks misuse.

The poster and TV campaign will be targeted at 12 areas of the country where the problem of firework misuse and injury is most acute.

Ms Johnson said:

"We all want to enjoy the fireworks season, but too often this time of year is blighted by problems of fireworks misuse, noise and nuisance.

"It's vital we crack down on this problem, but also educate people to make sure they know the consequences of the anti-social use of fireworks.

"Teenagers thinking of messing around with fireworks this year should think again. They are likely to spend Bonfire Night in casualty departments or worse.

"Always remember - fireworks are explosives and can cause serious damage."

Notes to editors

For a PDF file of the poster or a copy of the TV filler please call 020 7215 5969.

Case studies are attached at Annex A.

The DTI and its Campaign Partner the Child Accident Prevention Trust will be issuing more detailed fireworks advice in the run up to November 5th.

The 12 areas being targeted by the safety campaign are:

ENGLAND
Liverpool
Bradford
Manchester/Salford/Oldham
Birmingham
Leeds
Wolverhampton
Nottingham
Portsmouth
Sheffield
Newcastle/Gateshead

SCOTLAND
Greater Strathclyde

WALES
Newport

Accident Statistics

Information about the numbers and types of injuries caused by fireworks during the Bonfire Night 'firework season' is collected from hospital Accident and Emergency Units in England, Scotland and Wales.

The injury statistics are collected during a four-week period covering the three-week period when fireworks are traditionally on sale to the general public prior to Bonfire Night and ending on the weekend after Bonfire Night. View
http://www2.dti.gov.uk/CACP/ca/advice/fireworks/firestat.htm

Ban on Air Bombs

The voluntary ban on the sale of air bombs to the public comes into effect on 1st January 2003. For further information please contact John Woodhead at the British Fireworks Association on 07813 719106. The DTI intends to introduce regulations under the 1987 Consumer Protection Act to enforce the ban subject to consultation.

Fixed penalty notices

Fixed penalty notices came into force in three pilot areas on 12 August (with North Wales Police starting the pilot on 2nd September), under the seventh commencement order for the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001.

The four pilot areas are West Midlands (including British Transport Police operating within the West Midlands area), Essex Police, North Wales Police, (central division only) and Metropolitan Police (Croydon division only).

Payment of a penalty involves no admission of guilt or record of criminal conviction, though the alleged offender has the right to opt for trial by court and risk conviction. Failure to pay the penalty or opt for trial by court may lead to a fine equivalent to one and a half times the amount of penalty being imposed on the defaulter.

The power is discretionary and will be used by officers where appropriate. All the usual powers will be available to arrest and charge an offender to be dealt with in the courts if necessary.

Persons under 18 years of age will not be eligible to receive penalty notices for disorder offences.

Crackdown on Illegal Markets

The Health and Safety Executive has set up a fireworks enforcement liaison working group with local authorities, DTI and Customs and Excise. The aim of the working group is to improve the sharing of information and intelligence. HSE has also developed, with Customs and Excise and local authorities, ways to obtain and disseminate timely information on importers of fireworks.

Press Enquiries: 020-7215 5969
(Out of Hours : 020-7215 3234/ 3505)
Public Enquiries: 020-7215 5000
Textphone (for people with hearing impairments): 020-7215 6740 http://www.dti.gov.uk

Annex A

CASE STUDIES

James Townsend, Birmingham

Schoolboy James Townsend nearly lost his hand following an accident with a banned firework last year.

The 14-year-old suffered serious burns after the Chinese Cracker blew up as he held it. The explosion ripped open his hand and blasted off the tips of his thumb and two fingers.

After finding help in a nearby street James was airlifted to the burns unit at Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham, followed by his father Nigel, 44.

"We were very shocked when we saw James. His hand was unrecognisable, it was like looking at a plate of raw meat, you could see the bones and tendons," remembers Nigel.

"Although it looked horrific right up until the moment I saw him go into theatre I still hoped they would be able to patch him up 100 per cent and he'd come out right as rain," says company director Nigel.

His hopes turned to fear when the two and a half hour operation dragged on for five and a half hours.

"That's when I started to worry that they were amputating his hand," says the company director.

Fortunately that was not the case and the three surgeons managed to save James's hand using delicate microsurgery.

Nigel, from Sutton Coldfield, says: "After the operation I was in tears but they were tears of joy because we realised they'd managed to work a miracle.

"James was extremely worried that he might lose his hand and had even asked whether he'd need a disabled badge when he was older. He's an extremely lucky boy. His hand is not disfigured and he has regained full use of it. His thumb and fingers are shortened but the scarring on his palm and down the side of his fingers is hardly noticeable." Now the 19-year-old teenager is able to play his favourite sports, golf and pool just as well as ever but knows that the accident has served to highlight the dangers of playing with fireworks.

Nigel adds: "It was a prank that back-fired. The detonator was given to James by a friend who dared him to let it off. James is a very normal sensible lad but like a lot of boys couldn't resist experimenting.

"Afterwards James said he didn't think it could happen to him and that it just wasn't worth it. We all hope that the accident will prevent other boys from playing with fireworks."

Gary Hughes, Glasgow

Promising young player Gary Hughes lost his chance to fulfil his footballing dream after playing with fireworks.

Having finished a training session the 15-year-old from Glasgow and some friends decided to let off fireworks in an adjoining field.

Gary put the firework in the grass and used his lighter. But before he had chance to get away, it exploded, devastating his hand.

The explosion tore his thumb and next two fingers from his right hand, and ripped most of the flesh and muscle from the bone. In a state of shock and badly injured, Gary ran to his sister's house for help.

'He was in a terrible way mentally and physically," says his father, Frank. 'We were all in shock.'

Gary needed three, five-and-a-half hour operations to try and save his hand and doctors were pessimistic about the surgery being a success. The next four days were critical, but Gary was resilient and recovered well.

However, since the accident in October 2000, he has needed more than ten operations to rebuild his hand. Skin and muscle have been taken from all over his body, leaving him with scars down his back and sides. He has also had to learn to use his other hand for simple, every day tasks.

Since then the talented youngster's dreams of becoming a professional footballer have fallen by the wayside, along with his passion for other sports such as golf, pool and swimming.

'He really misses playing sports and has lost a lot of confidence. He isn't the same boy. Before he was happy and carefree, now he gets depressed and suffers mood swings," says his dad, Frank. 'But it could have been worse. Gary could have lost his eyes," adds Frank.

Just turned 18, life is curently very different to the one Gary had envisaged. Although he has a girlfriend his father says that his self esteem is not what it used to be. 'I have always been against messing around with fireworks,' says Frank. 'The fireworks they got hold of were like bombs.

'If people could see what myself and my family have been through, all the operations and heartache, that would put boys off playing with fireworks. Imagine finding your son in the middle of the night crying his heart out. These are the consequences that people should know.

'If I could show my son's hand to other children I don't think they would pick up another firework. They need to see someone who has suffered, for it to hit home. 'Gary always tell youngsters to keep away from fireworks. These days he won't go out of the house on November 5th.'

Martin Lamparter, London

When teenager Martin Lamparter pulled on his trainers to go out, it would be the last time his family would see him alive.

Like most parents they had drummed it into their children the importance of being safe with fireworks.

Unfortunately, 13-year-old Martin, his older brother Andrew, and a friend failed to heed their warning last December.

The trio headed for a field near their north London home with a bag full of fireworks. The accident happened when a firework unexpectedly exploded and shot into the side of Martin's neck, rupturing a main artery. He suffered a brain haemorrhage and died instantly.

Not realising the severity of his brother's injury, Andrew ran back home and told his dad, 'there's been a terrible accident. Martin's been injured.' They dashed back to the pitch black field where Martin was found on the ground encircled by people.

'I was expecting him to be injured, not unconscious with people trying to give him heart massage and the kiss of life,' says dad, Brian, 39. 'I remember looking at his face and although it was completely unmarked, I knew in my own heart that Martin had gone," says Brian.

Ten minutes after arriving in hospital doctors broke the news that Brian deep down knew, but dreaded to hear.

'I had to phone my wife Margaret and she insisted I tell her over the phone what had happened," says Brian. 'It was awful and all quite blurry.' Through tears, Brian explains, 'the boys knew they shouldn't have been over there playing with fireworks. We'd always told them about how dangerous it was but being teenage boys, they just didn't listen. Our warnings didn't work.'

Only now, nine months later, the family, which includes an 11-year-old daughter, are beginning to get back on with their lives although it's a terribly slow and painful process.

Brian says: 'It was Martin's 14th birthday a little while ago and we had to go to the cemetery to see him. That's a tragedy. We have lost the biggest treasure in our lives. If we can save another family's grief, or a child suffering then something positive has come out of it.

'I would tell other boys and parents, just look what can happen when fireworks fall into the wrong hands. Teenage boys think it's a bit of fun but it can cost them their lives.'

Sean MacLaughlan, Luton

Letting off fireworks on Halloween night proved to be an horrific experience for teenager Sean Maclaughlan.

In a moonlit field next to an abandoned church the teenager and a bunch of friends gathered with an assortment of powerful fireworks. Sean, says: "I set off an air bomb, which was supposed to contain two explosions but only one went off. Nothing happened, So I went over to it. I know they say never go back but I just didn't think.

'I picked it up and turned round to speak to someone and it went off in my hand. It was like holding a stick of dynamite.

'I knew my hand was pretty bad. My palm was split open and the pain was unbelievable. I wrapped my jumper around my arm to limit the blood flow to my hand and my friends drove to the nearest hospital.'

At Mount Vernon Hospital, London, doctors warned the apprentice engineer, that they may have to amputate parts of his fingers.

The initial operation lasted four hours and involved removing the top joint of his index finger and two joints of his middle finger and reconnecting tendons in his thumb. The following day Sean, 17, underwent 10 hour surgery, in which they took away his badly damaged thumb.

Sean stayed in hospital for three months of complex surgery and painful physiotherapy. He went without a thumb for eight months before undergoing a revolutionary operation to remove a toe and use it as a replacement thumb.

The operation was considered a success giving him back movement and feeling. Having become ambidextrous, Sean is now able to use his right had again. In all he has had five operations, four of which were over 10 hours.

After a year of hospital treatment Sean returned to work and continued with his day release city and guilds college course in the same subject.

Sean, from Luton says: 'It was daunting at first having to relearn to do simple things and then there's the whole thing about what other people think about you. But they don't notice my hand as I wear a skin coloured pressure garment.' Sean, who is now 21, is back riding motorbikes, enjoys holidays with friends and tries not to let his injury stop him from leading a normal life.

'Teenagers like me who let off fireworks, think it will never happen to them. But it does. I show them my hand to make it sink in. That normally shocks them. If I can prevent one person from going through what I've been through then it will be worth it,' says Sean.

'I wish I'd never gone near fireworks. I'm not scared of them but I give them a lot more respect now,' he adds.

ENDS

Department of Trade and Industry 1 Victoria Street London SW1H 0ET