Firework Fears For Our Veterans
It's claimed many ex-soldiers in our region will struggle to cope this bonfire night.
The sound and smell of fireworks can bring flashbacks to the warzone for some people, according to North East charity Veterans Response.
Ian Driver, Chairman, tells us veterans sometimes self-medicate on drugs or shut themselves away but he says that in the most extreme cases some will turn to suicide.
He said:
“They could see their best friend killed. A flashback, it’s a bang, a flash, a smell without any notification. Post-Traumatic Stress can happen at any time.”
“Some try to take medication. Most of them don’t want to admit that something is wrong, it’s often the last thing that they’ll do. Its other vets that say listen, you need help.”
“It’s not just firework night; you’re now building up to Christmas and New Year. You have a long period of time where there are explosions and the effects of fireworks going off quite regularly.”
The charity is urging people to be considerate of their neighbours this and let them know if they’ll be letting off fireworks or go to organised events this week if it’s possible.