29 December, Vitebsk /Diana Kurilo - BELTA/. A man in Braslav suffered serious burns after detonating an old firecracker, BELTA was informed by Marina Fando, press secretary of the Vitebsk Regional Department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. Early this morning, a local resident was admitted to Braslav Hospital with multiple burns. He found a pyrotechnic device that had been stored at home for over two years. He went outside and detonated the firecracker near an outbuilding. The firecracker landed in a canister of gasoline, causing an explosion. Medics assess the man's condition as severe. The Ministry of Emergency Situations reminds once again that pyrotechnic devices can only be used in open areas, far from residential buildings. Special attention should be paid to the quality of the product – when purchasing, one should ask the seller for a certificate. Fireworks with an expired shelf life must not be used. The sale of pyrotechnic devices in Belarus is permitted only in specialized stores. Household pyrotechnic devices (caps, party poppers, sparklers) that are sold in retail outlets and whose handling does not require special knowledge or skills are allowed for use without special permits. Each pyrotechnic device must be accompanied by an instruction manual, which must include text highlighted in bold regarding the danger of the product and restrictions on its use.-0-

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