Both the print and electronic media have made a good start by publishing pictures and stories of the misery caused by fireworks this season. However, more stories and particularly, more pictures need to be published. The public should be given information on how many people visited hospitals and A&E centres across the country for treatment of injuries caused by fireworks. By this, I mean a story—perhaps in this coming week—giving numbers for each institution and a total for the country, not a bit here and a bit there.
After Divali, one newspaper caught the attention of the public by publishing a picture of a man’s hand, severely injured by fireworks. Gruesome as some may consider this, that sort of picture is the one that brings home the reality.
Attention should also be paid to the Fire Services call for their organisation to be involved in where and when fireworks may be set off.
Unfortunately, complaints from residents about the noise and dangers of fireworks let off in their areas will, as usual, fall on deaf government ears.
Perhaps, stories and pictures of injured constituents and their families (including those shot undercover of fireworks noise) might take us a step closer to removing fireworks from private hands altogether.
Ann Whittaker