Surgeon issues fireworks warning after boy lost 'half his scrotum' at bonfire
“We have also had children who have brought out jerry cans from the shed and poured petrol on a bonfire that doesn’t look like it’s lighting," said the surgeon. File image.
A leading plastic surgeon in Cork has warned the use of dangerous Halloween fireworks is on the rise, which can leave young people with life-altering injuries.
Ann McKenna, a consultant plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic surgeon at the Bon Secours Hospital in the city, has spoken about the traumatic long-term effects of Halloween-related injuries, amid concerns about a rise in their usage.
“We had one boy who was sitting down with his friends around a bonfire. They were watching fireworks when an aerosol shot out from the bonfire and landed on his lap.
He lost half his scrotum and a testicle as a result of the incident.
"He and his friends thought they were at a safe distance and never imagined that anything like this could happen. He was only 14 at the time.
“We have also had children who have brought out jerry cans from the shed and poured petrol on a bonfire that doesn’t look like it’s lighting.
Ms McKenna is urging people to be aware of the dangers Halloween bonfires can present.
“We see a lot of accidents from people building the bonfires in their own estates. They are breaking down pallets and taking rubbish from houses. Aerosolised products can shoot out of bonfires like missiles, which is why they need to be avoided at all costs.” She said even localised burns could be life-changing for many young teenagers.
“We see a lot of hand burns, which can be particularly difficult for a young person.
"The hands are always on display, and teenagers just want to look the same as everyone else."
While bonfires are always a source of concern, there is a growing risk from fireworks, which appear to be increasingly used by teenagers around Halloween.
“A lot of the injuries that we’re seeing are from fireworks that teenagers wouldn’t have been able to get their hands on so easily before.
"It’s mainly hand burns. It’s usually teenagers buying from other teenagers. Certain websites have created this buying-and-selling culture between teenagers, which is normal now."
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