11 fireworks victims in Suriname

(de Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO – Four days after the official start of the fireworks season 11 victims have been reported. The Fire Department (KBS) is concerned since nine of the 11 victims are younger than 16. Two victims have been hospitalized with second degree burns. The first victim was on Christmas Eve. That same night another victim was wounded in the eye. KBS has therefore put up a demographic plan in educating the public, focusing mainly on the areas where many fireworks incidents have occurred in the past few years, says Ulrich Coats, Fire Department PR Official. Coats says that three types of persons have been identified including those against fireworks, the modest types and the hardcore fireworks lovers. To support the group against the Fire Department has printed T-shirts with the text ‘I Love my life, so I say no to fireworks.’  Several video and audio commercials have been produced to support the campaign. Since Sunday the commercials are aired more frequently. The education program is aimed at both sellers and buyers of fireworks. Sellers should keep to their license requirements. Selling to under 16-year-olds is prohibited and the glass cases in which fireworks are displayed must be at least 5mm thick. A clear sign forbidding smoking and fire should be visible on the walls. Sellers get a poster with the text that selling to under 16-year-old is forbidden when they are issued their license. The KBS PR officer says that many fireworks sellers abstain from putting up the poster, so the department has gone to all the shops to put up the poster personally. Licensees that violate the rules risk a fine, but also confiscation of their fireworks or withdrawal of their license. KBS inspects all selling points weekly.