[ad_1]
A woman who lost an eye after a firework broke out in her face called for a ban on its sale to the public, as new figures revealed that more than 1,000 explosives-related emergency incidents were reported in the past three years.
Amber Lewis sustained injuries to her face “like something out of a horror movie” after the accident in her front yard on January 31.
The 46-year-old Cardiff woman had one eye removed and was left almost completely blind, as her other eye was also injured in the incident.
Ms Lewis said her injuries were ‘like something out of a horror movie’
He has now called for a ban on over-the-counter fireworks sales, as figures obtained by Sky News showed that firefighters have been called in to at least 1,084 explosives-related incidents in the UK since the beginning of 2018.
They included 20 incidents in which fireworks were used to attack firefighters, according to data released by fire services under the Freedom of Information Act.
Ms Lewis told Sky News that she fears more accidents like hers will occur this year in the run-up to Bonfire Night, as organized fireworks displays are canceled in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
“My concern is that people do not understand the dangers,” he said.
“They will see that these fireworks are sold in the big supermarkets and they will buy them and accidents will happen.
“There will be large quantities [of accidents] which is really scary. They will not only be adults, they will also be young. “
Ms Lewis had a prosthetic eye fitted after the accident
Now he has called for a ban on the sale of over-the-counter fireworks.
Ms. Lewis said she purchased the fireworks that caused the injuries from a licensed seller and followed instructions when they were fired “multiple times” and struck her face.
“The pain was nothing like what I can explain,” he said. “It was a constant burn and there was a horrible smell.
“I burned my entire hairline and fireworks went up my nose too.
“I looked at myself in the mirror and my eyeball had turned black.
“It looked like something out of a horror movie.
“I was very lucky that I wasn’t totally blind because I also have scars on my right eye.”
Lewis said looking in a mirror was a ‘constant reminder’ of the fireworks accident
Ms. Lewis, who sustained her injuries at a family reunion, was rushed to the hospital where she was told that her eye would be removed the next morning.
“I’ve never been so scared in my entire life,” she said.
“It took me a long time to stop having bad nightmares. For the first few weeks I couldn’t even talk to people or say what had happened.
“If I looked in the mirror, it was a constant reminder every morning of what happened.”
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Sky News sent freedom of information requests to 49 UK fire services requesting details of fireworks-related emergency calls from January 2018 to October 2020.
A total of 1,084 incidents were recorded, including 159 incidents between January and October this year amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to responses from 36 fire services.
Among the answers:
- London Fire Brigade said “multiple fireworks were aimed at firefighters” after they were called to a burning car, one of 253 fireworks-related incidents since 2018
- The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service said 22 incidents involving fireworks were recorded, including one in which firefighters were attacked by people throwing the explosives and 11 incidents in which they were pushed through mailboxes or thrown through windows.
- Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue he said he had attended 11 fireworks-related incidents, including one in which a firework, an “incendiary bomb / device” was used.
- Cheshire Fire and Rescue said it dealt with 11 fireworks-related incidents, including three incidents in which explosives were pushed through mailboxes.
- Midwestern Wales Fire and Rescue said fireworks were fired at firefighters during a “civil unrest” in 2019
- The Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service said three children were hit by fireworks in an incident in 2019
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Ms Lewis, who only had a prosthetic eye fitted three weeks ago due to delays caused by COVID-19, told Sky News that if a ban on the public sale of fireworks cannot be quickly introduced, people should be made to take a safety course before buying them.
“Honestly, I never knew the dangers of fireworks,” he added.
“I feel like if I had to do a one-day training or sign a disclaimer, I would have realized the danger of fireworks and would not have done this.”
Ms. Lewis, who now has a prosthetic eye, believes that people should have safety training to use fireworks.
Ahead of Bonfire Night on November 5, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has urged people to “think twice” before lighting fireworks.
Neil Odin, chairman of the NFCC prevention committee, said: “The pandemic means that more families may try to hold displays at home, perhaps without the experience of handling fireworks before.
“We ask people to think twice if they need to have an exhibit at home and instead find other ways to celebrate Bonfire Night with their immediate families.
“If you choose to celebrate with fireworks at home, we ask that you plan very carefully and make sure you purchase proper and legal fireworks and that you have enough space for a display to make your celebration as safe as possible.”
