WOODLAND, Calif. — A Woodland mother is speaking out about the dangers of fireworks in the hopes of helping other families avoid the nightmare they went through on Fourth of July.
Holly Carr said, 13 years ago, the unthinkable happened at celebration with neighbors. Her child, Stevie, was five years old at the time and got burned by a sparkler. Holly said the sparkler popped, hit Stevie's hand and lit part of their clothes on fire.
"It was pretty much instantaneous, as soon as my husband lit the sparkler and handed it to me and I handed it off, it was almost as soon as I turned around, I heard screaming and I turned to see my child on fire running towards me," Holly said.
Stevie was rushed to the hospital by paramedics and stayed in the ICU for two weeks. 15% of Stevie's body suffered third degree burns.
The months that followed involved skin graft surgery and bandaging and cleaning wounds. Holly said Stevie even had to relearn to walk, because Stevie's legs were so badly burned.
While wounds have since healed, still more than a decade later, the trauma from that day remains.
"Every Fourth you're just reminded, the firework stands that go up are very triggering for my family now," Holly said.
Burns from fireworks are something the UC Davis Firefighters Burn Institute Regional Burn Center sees every year.
"Sparklers can get as hot 1,200 degrees, and they can cause third degree burns," said Burn Center Outreach Coordinator Lauren Spink, RN.
With help from the Burn Institute, volunteers and other survivors, the Carr family has found their support system to heal.
Now 18 years old, Stevie recently graduated high school and has a love for singing and playing musical instruments. Stevie is undergoing training to become a counselor for other burn survivors.
Holly, too, shares the family's story of what happened that day to save others.
Her message to parents is this: "make sure that you keep your family safe. Things can happen in an instant, I mean seconds flat. Teach fire safety, but 100%, don't hand your kids fire because that's what a sparkler is."
Holly said Stevie is going to college to become an English teacher. Their family will continue share their story to raise awareness.
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