By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The Ministry of Health, in teamwork with other ministries, announced the campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of the use of explosive powder by children, especially during the upcoming celebration of Christmas and New Years.

According to the authorities, the fireworks with powder, used for holidays celebrations, must be purchased only by adults in stores that have authorization for the sale of those devices issued by the municipality.

According to the authorities, the municipalities are responsible for authorizing or prohibiting the sale of explosive powder devices in each canton.

For example, in 2018, The Municipality of Corredores banned the sale of pyrotechnic materials, while the Municipality of San José issued more than 100 authorizations for the sale of artifacts with powder.

Also, police said that officers will increase surveillance of pyrotechnic sales outlets to detect possible illegal transactions.

According to statistics provided by the Children's Hospital, three children between the ages of 5 and 14 were burned with gunpowder in 2018 . During this year, two children already have been burned.

Children's Hospital officials recommended these first aide steps for a child burned with power: cool the burned area, remove the cloth covering the burned area, cover the area with a clean cloth, and go immediately to the emergency room.

Also, it is recommended not to apply any type of substance such as creams, or ointments in the burned area.

The best way to prevent accidents involving children burned during the holidays is to prevent them from using artifacts with powder as sparklers, snakes, cone fountains, ground-bloom flowers, spinners among others, officials said. Also, the child must always be in the care of an adult, they added


Sunday the border police seized more than 6,000 units of explosive devices they said were smuggled from Panamá.

Police in Golfito, in the southern zone of the country, intercepted the shipment of 6,235 units of various devices.

According to the police report, a vehicle  driven by a Costa Rican man surnamed Quesada was coming from the border with Panama.

"Quesada, did not have any documentation to support the purchase of the products, so it is presumed that gunpowder was illegally introduced to the country," said police.

According to Weapons and Explosives Law, the possession, transport and sale of these types of item are illegal.

Quesada was taken to the Prosecutor's Office of Golfito as a suspect of the alleged crime of transporting hazardous material and endangering common security.



-----------------------------------
What other recommendation would you give to prevent a child from burning in a powder accident? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com

Booking.com

---