Fireworks safety - Helene's storyShow Video Details ↓ [noise]Helene Wood: I will never forget what this hospital did do for me. It will always mean a lot to me. It just really makes a difference. It's hard coming back but it's also special. Narrator: College student Helene Wood have a serious accident when she was seven. It was a time of year that all young people should have fun memories of, not nightmares. Helene Wood: I don't really remember much other than the fact that suddenly there was mud in my mouth and in my hair, my face and then I saw ambulance and my dad said like... Saying something but I couldn't really hear anything. [noise] Ten years ago I was badly burned by a firework and I had to go through several operations including a skin graft where they took skin off my thigh and put it in on my shoulder. And I had to have loads of dressing changes and lots of pain. Seven percent of my body, mainly my shoulder and up behind my ear, had full fitness burns so it burned right down through the nerves straight to the bone. Narrator: Helene's injuries with treating by some of the country's leading burn specialist of the World Famous Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead. This is the South East's premier reconstructive plastic surgery center. Helene has returned to the hospital to visit the plastic surgeons and to make her video helping people to understand fireworks danger. Baijit Dheansa: You probably notice that the scars were quite red and raised right at the beginning and they've clearly settled down and made for a much flatter, more natural looking appearance now. Narrator: The consultant is updating Helene on her scarring. Baijit Dheansa: Firework injuries often cause quite deep burns. They tend to effect, commonly, the face, the chest and the hands because those are the exposed areas we've got. And especially around the face where there are so many important organs such as the eyes, around the mouth, they can have quite devastating effects. Narrator: Although Helene was injured by a rogue firework at a public display 10 years ago, it was a freak accident that shows just how dangerous fireworks are. Organized displays remain the safest way to see fireworks. Because Helene wants all young people to understand the dangers, she's now publicly backing the Kent police safer autumn campaign. Lee Russell: Well Helene is clearly a very spirited young woman for telling us about her injuries. We want everyone to enjoy fireworks. What we don't want is for people to be injured. Please look at the Kent police website for good advice on fireworks and follow the firework code. [noise] Narrator: Helene, what's your message about fireworks to other young people? Helene Wood: I don't want anyone to go through what I went through. I was lucky but you might not be so fortunate. Enjoy the fireworks and be safe this autumn. [silence] … … … … … … |