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Christmas “Pop Shot” Can Be Dangerous
Fri, December 19, 2014
It's Christmas and - like it or loathe it - one of the traditions of the season are those dynamites, pop shots, cherry bombs and sparkles. Many adults find them to be a nuisance, but the combustion and noise are the highlight of the season for kids.

Yes, these explosives should not be in the hands of children but they are easy to get off the streets and the kids sure do love them.

It's not always fun though; they can cause serious injuries. A young West Street Resident told us how a fun night out with friends and what the streets call "pop-shat" caused her a lot of pain.

Courtney Weatherburne reporting
What you just heard is a homemade explosive. It's dangerous and destructive. But at Xmas time, it's seen as child's play, it's an explosive similar to that one that exploded in 11 year old Kelize Garcia's left hand on Sunday night. She can barely move her fingers and it hurts when she puts her hand to her side. It's an experience she says she has definitely learned from.

Kelize Garcia, 11
"I was playing with the dynamite. The dynamite was wet and it didn't want to light, so I opened the dynamite and I opened the gun powder and I light it from the top and it exploded. I just want to tell them to stop play with dynamite and the cherry bomb because that is really dangerous."

And if you want to avoid this hazard, heed this warning.

Orin Smith, Station Officer, National Fire Service
"Fire crackers although a traditional part of celebration has over the years lead to many injuries. Usually there is a license or permit that is require for its manufacture, storage, sales and use and the misuse of fire crackers can lead to blindness, injuries, fatalities or fire occurring. Fire crackers, sparks and rockets should not be given to kids unsupervised. Sparkles can create heat as high as 1800 degrees Fahrenheit and enough to soften gold. Keep out of hair, face and clothing. Use fire crackers outside the home. Have a bucket of water or garden hose just in case. Do not try to make your own fire crackers. Do not hold fire crackers in the hand when lit. Point fire crackers away from the homes, bushy areas and other flammables. I remember one instance some years ago when one whistling dynamite came into my brother's house and almost catch his house on fire. We had to tear down the curtain and throw it outside, so the misuse of it is definitely a danger and pointing it in the direction of other residence is another serious thing."

Hopefully her hand heals before classes resume. Her mother is using Aloe Vera to treat the injury.

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