The Abu Dhabi Police called upon parents to guide their children to play safe games instead of playing with fireworks for their own safety as well as the safety of others.
Colonel Hamid Said Al Afrit, Director of the Arms and Explosives Directorate in the Security Affairs and Outlets at the Abu Dhabi Police, said that each family should supervise their own children and deter them from the use of fireworks by introducing them to the risks, damages, and resulting injuries.
“The past three years have not witnessed any accident or injury caused by the use of fireworks due to the ongoing risk awareness campaigns; parents have positively reacted to these campaigns, showing their determination to provide protection for their children,” he added.
Colonel Al Afrit stressed on the Abu Dhabi Police’s commitment to ward off risks resulting from the use of fireworks by children and adolescents highlighting the great danger to their physical health including severe bodily harm, as well as damages such as fires.
“The law criminalizes the use of fireworks; Article 59 of the 2009 Federal Law No. 3 concerning arms, ammunition and explosives, stipulates punishment to each licensee that has imported, exported, sold, bought, received, transferred, stored fireworks, or performed any of these actions without any required permission to do so by imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months and a penalty of not more than five thousand dirhams, or either of these sanctions,” he explained.
Colonel Al Afrit pointed out that the relevant authority takes legal measures against the violators so as to provide safety and protection for the entire society, urging everyone to make an effective contribution by briefing the police about those who use fireworks by calling the security line 800.2626 or sending a text message to the number: 2828.
“The use of fireworks and crackers is a negative occurrence, especially witnessed on special occasions and holidays,” he stated, adding that it is a wrongful habit conducted by some individuals and urged people to abstain from fireworks citing the upcoming Eid Al Fitr celebration. He finally warned facilitators and spectators against fireworks’ risks such as the potential of severe burns and different deformities.