There
are many obvious dangers on the beach that parents worry about, and you always
do your best to keep your children safe and secure.
You
fill the bag with sunscreen, bring bathing suits and life jackets, make sure
there is a lot of water packed and remember your parasol.
But
even with all the planning in the world, you can’t prepare yourself for every
possible scenario. So what do you do when your day at the beach is suddenly
interrupted by your child, screaming at you, with blood everywhere?
That
was exactly what happened to Katja Kafling when she was playing on the beach
with her children.
The
reason her son ended up with bloody wounds on his feet?
A
danger hidden under the sand that was so shocking that Katja now wants to warn
others.
It
started like any other trip to the beach, outside Roskilde in Denmark. Katja’s
son, 3-year-old Jacob, was playing happily in the sand and his mom was enjoying
the sun.
But
seconds later she was on her way to the emergency room in sheer panic. Her
little boy’s feet were burned so badly that his skin fell off.
The
reason? Something that neither she nor anyone else could have expected.
Hidden
under the sandy surface were still glowing pieces of coal and wood, probably
from a fire that had been lit the night before on the beach.
Little
Jacob had walked straight into the fire, which hadn’t been properly
extinguished. Many people use only sand to cool down or quench fires.
But
according to Doctor Marianne Cinat at UCI’s Regional Burn Centre, this has the
opposite effect. “Sand locks in heat, making smoldering coals even hotter,” she
says.
Young
Jacob’s burns were so extensive that doctors in Denmark considered amputating
his toes.
But
luckily, the skilled surgeons managed to transplant skin from other parts of
his body to repair his feet.
After
almost a year of hospital visits, terrible physical pain and rehabilitation,
now 7-year-old Jacob is a happy and thriving little boy. But his feet have been
left with permanent scars.
The
family knows that the person who left the fire untouched didn’t do it to
deliberately cause harm. It’s more likely that the person was unaware of the
hidden dangers.
That’s
why it’s important to share Jacob’s story to warn others.
Next time you’re on the beach and see someone bury the remains of their
fire with sand, ask the people to use water instead.
With education and awareness, we can all do our part to increase security
for others.
Jacob was lucky to avoid having his feet amputated, but others might not
have the same luck. Let’s not let this happen to more children this summer –
help us share this on Facebook!
Source
: newsner.com