Published: June 30, 2009 11:25 pm      

Pretty dangerous

All fireworks, even sparklers, can cause

CUMBERLAND — If you think sparklers can’t cause injuries, talk to Tara Crawford, whose 4-year-old daughter was severely burned in a sparkler accident in March.

The night of March 8, Sciona Smith was rushed to the Memorial campus of the Western Maryland Health System by private vehicle.

The child was treated for second-degree burns to 11 percent of her body. The injuries covered her chest down to her navel.

Crawford recalled that tragic night.

“It was a beautiful day and we had a cookout. At night, we got out sparklers and the kids were playing with them. All of a sudden, Sciona's shirt flamed up,” said Crawford.

“It was horrible. I never would have expected this to happen. I grew up playing with sparklers and my mom said she grew up playing with them.”

Crawford watched her child suffer from her severe burns. “She would toss and turn all night for weeks. She didn’t eat well. It was very painful,” she said.

Terri Dabbs, Crawford’s mother, helped with Sciona’s care and recovery. “We took care of her night and day. You had to change the bandages three times a day. It was so painful for her. She wouldn’t let anyone else change her but me. It was so bad. She wouldn't let any of the kids near her because she was afraid they would bump into her.

“It was like she was in shock for the whole first week and she was heavily dosed with codeine for the pain. It was a nightmare,” said the Sheridan Place resident.

Dabbs said she “never thought something like this could happen.”

“The sparkler just touched her shirt and it caught fire. It’s a good thing a family friend was there. He rolled Sciona on the ground and got the fire out right away. If he had not been there at the time, she could have been killed,” said Dabbs.

Deputy Fire Marshal Mike Mattingly of the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office investigated the incident.

“It was purely accidental. It happened so quickly. The sparkler just touched her cotton shirt and it ignited. Sparklers are legal but they can be dangerous. When kids use them, it should be under the close supervision of an adult,” said Mattingly.

Sciona is no longer under doctor’s care. “She’s doing good now and the scars are healing,” said Crawford, who offered a word of caution.

“It was a freak accident and it caused a lot of pain. We were fortunate how it turned out. But there was a lot of pain and it can happen to other kids,” she said. “My kids will never play with sparklers again.”

Of all injuries caused by fireworks, 16 percent can be attributed to sparklers, according to the National Council on Fireworks Safety. Most of the victims are young children who suffer burns to their hands and legs.

Contact Jeffrey Alderton at jlalderton@times-news.com.