A shocking event has changed a young girl’s life forever. Ruby Grainger, only 7 years old, lost her eye in a freak accident. It happened when a vape is thought to have exploded from a bonfire.
On Saturday, October 5, Ruby was walking home in Tallaght, Dublin. She had just bought an ice cream. As she crossed a field, something flew out of a fire on the grass. It hit her right eye. Her eye started bleeding badly right away. Ruby ran home screaming. Her mum, Ciara Grainger, was shocked. She said, “There was battery acid in her eye.” They rushed Ruby to the hospital.
32 Ciara told reporters, “She was just walking across the field after going to the ice cream van. Next thing I know, she’s running back to the house screaming.” Ciara couldn’t believe what had happened. She knew right away that something was very wrong.
What Happened at the Hospital
Doctors tried hard to save Ruby’s eye. They had emergency surgery at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital. But the damage was too bad. They couldn’t save her eye. The doctors think it was battery acid that hurt Ruby’s eye. They said her eyeball looked like “mashed potato”. This kind of damage is scarce from a fire.
Ciara explained, “After the operation, the doctor said, ‘It’s bad news, we had to take the eye away’.” The doctors told her they had never seen this kind of damage from a fire before.
How This Will Change Ruby’s Life
Ruby might get a fake eye in about six weeks. But her life will be very different now. She’ll need to attend a particular school for kids who can’t see well. She has to learn how to balance again with only one eye. The accident has scared Ruby a lot. She has bad dreams every night. It will take time for her to feel better. Ciara says, “She remembers the same cry I had when it happened and when she was running to the house after it happened to her.”
There’s also a tiny chance Ruby could lose sight in her left eye. It’s bruised right now, so doctors are closely monitoring it.
Why Vapes and Bonfires Don’t Mix
Vape batteries can be dangerous. They can explode if they get too hot. Throwing vapes in fires is very risky. The fire can make the battery too hot, causing it to blow up. Vapes have lithium-ion batteries. These batteries store a lot of energy in a small space. They can catch fire or explode if they get damaged or too hot. This is why it’s never safe to throw them in fires.
What’s Being Done About It
Ruby’s family has asked for help online. They set up a GoFundMe page to pay for Ruby’s medical care. They also want to move to a safer place.
Ciara has reported the problems to the police (called Gardaí in Ireland) and the local council. But she feels like nothing has changed. She says, “We’re living in fear, and no one cares.”
The local council knows about these problems and says it’s working with the police and fire service to make things safer. But Ruby’s mum thinks more needs to be done.
https://metro.co.uk/2024/10/14/girl-7-loses-eye-vape-battery-acid-explodes-face-21794557/
Wrapping Up
Ruby’s story is unfortunate. A fun trip for ice cream ended with her losing an eye. It shows how quickly accidents can happen. We all need to be careful with vapes and fires. Let’s work together to make our communities safer. Vape responsibly, and look out for younger kids in your area. Small actions can prevent big tragedies.
Remember Ruby’s story. It reminds us to protect those who can’t defend themselves. Being more aware can stop other kids from getting hurt like Ruby did. This incident also shows how important it is for local authorities to act quickly when people report problems. Safe communities need everyone to work together – residents, police, and regional councils.
As we approach Halloween, when bonfires are common, let’s all be extra careful. Don’t let the fun turn into danger. Keep yourself and others safe by being bright around fires and never throwing dangerous items. Ruby’s life has changed forever because of a tiny object in a fire. Let’s learn from this and make sure it never happens again.
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