Frontline responders from Cavan County Fire Service, An Garda Síochána, and the National Ambulance Service are urging the people of Cavan to celebrate Hallowe'en safely this year and to steer clear of illegal fireworks and unsupervised bonfires, which can cause life-changing injuries.
Illegal fireworks are not subject to safety standards and can often misfire, causing severe injuries to those handling them, and to bystanders.
Every year in Ireland, injuries such as full-thickness burns, traumatic amputations, blindness, and hearing difficulties, are caused by illegal fireworks. The noise from fireworks can also be extremely distressing for vulnerable persons and for animals.
Hallowe'en bonfires also present significant risk to safety and to properties, and the public is urged to exercise caution regarding bonfires. Trick or treaters and those in fancy dress, or parents of children dressing up, are reminded that many fancy dress costumes are extremely flammable, particularly those without the CE safety mark.
Children should be taught to Teach children to STOP, DROP, and ROLL in the event that their clothing does catch fire: STOP immediately, DROP to the ground and cover face (unless hands are on fire), ROLL over and over until the flames are extinguished. Fire station officer in Virginia is Patrick Farrelly and he has been talking to Ronan Gargan.
