Although it may be considered something very funny or part of the culture of Ecuador, the truth is that on this date the number of fires and injuries from burns increases. As a paramedic I have seen how horrible it is to see families left homeless, people who lose their hands or have severe burns all over their bodies, dying people in agony and families in pain wishing it had never happened or wishing they would no longer suffer. (Richard Pizarro, paramedic)
This is without taking into account the issue of pollution. Francisco Plaza, from the Foundation against Noise, Polluted Air and Smoking (Funcorat), states that the sulphur dioxide generated by the burnings accentuates asthma, allergies and conjunctivitis, as harmful gases such as carbon monoxide and dioxide and even lead are released.
A small firebox, for example, contains a large amount of mercury, and the devils release white phosphorus, which when combusted generates smoke, which is absorbed by the respiratory system and can lodge in the lungs.
According to a study carried out two years ago by Funcorat, after the years burn, a cloud forms that takes 15 to 20 days to dissolve in Guayaquil. In Quito, it takes approximately one month.
We invite you to become aware and change customs that we once shared in order to continue our evolution with greater respect for ourselves and our Mother Earth.
Theme proposed by Pier Luiggi Maquilón.
ES_ES 
EN