16 kids hurt by fireworks in El Salvador
December 26th, 2011 - 11:32 am ICT by IANSSan Salvador, Dec 26 (IANS/EFE) At least 16 children were injured by fireworks on Christmas eve in El Salvador, an official said.
Nine of the children were hurt in San Salvador, where a three-year-old boy had to have four fingers amputated on his left hand after a high-powered firecracker went off as he held it, emergency management office director Jorge Melendez said Sunday.
Some children were treated for burns and released from medical centers, but others remain hospitalized, the emergency management office chief said in a press conference.
Five children were injured in La Libertad and one in La Paz, both provinces located in central El Salvador, while another child was hurt in the western province of Santa Ana.
Of the 16 children hurt by fireworks on Christmas eve, 15 were not being supervised by their parents or other adults, Melendez said.
Lawmakers should consider passing legislation to punish adults who allow children to handle fireworks unsupervised and merchants who sell the products to children, authorities said.
–IANS/EFE
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Tags: authorities, burns, christmas eve, el salvador, emergency management office, firecracker, fireworks, four fingers, la libertad, la paz, lawmakers, left hand, legislation, medical centers, office chief, office director, san salvador, santa ana, unsupervised, western province