Fireworks sold on the street or in open marketplaces can be smuggled and aren't checked for safety. Low quality fireworks can cause various injuries ranging from burns to amputated fingers. Petru Molceanu, senior inspector at the industrial products and services division of the Agency for Consumer's Protection, told IPN that those keen on lighting fireworks during the winter holidays should buy them only from specialized and authorized shops.
Petru Molceanu said that all pyrotechnical products must have logos forbidding their use for underage persons. Consumers must read and respect the instructions to the letter. They should also keep a safe distance from the firework and be careful about their expiry date, because expired products can light slower, people may think it won't explode at all, come closer and then get seriously injured.
The inspector urged people to alert the police whenever they see fireworks vendors in unauthorized places. These vendors usually sell smuggled products that don't meet safety standards. Overall, there are 5 categories of pyrotechnical products: the first three can be used by any customer, while the 4th and 5th categories are only for specialists.
Petru Cravet, press officer at the Emergency Hospital, told IPN that fireworks are the cause of many injuries and people got burns or even amputated fingers. During the previous New Year's Eve, 11 people in Chisinau ended up in hospital because of firework-related hand injuries.
