Fire works

[Dave McClung]

I just heard a news story on Seattle Channel 5 about how fireworks may trigger a negative reaction in war veterans. The two veterans they had on the story to discuss it were not, in my opnion, typical veterans, but their point was valid.

I remember an incident that happened in the first year after I returned from Vietnam. After Linda and I were sound asleep, someone lit a package of firecrackers in the street in front of our house. I was under the bed before I woke up. I still remember my first thoughts -- I was sure we were under attack.

My war experience was so long ago, that I now look forward to the fireworks.
For several days before every holiday, we have lots of fireworks here. While there are a lot of restrictions in Washington, the state laws don't apply to the Indian Reservations. One can buy almost any kind of fireworks on the reservations and we have a lot of reservations. Some of our neighbors have fire works displays that rival the professional displays.

[Jim Franklin]

At a graduate course at the University of Oklahoma a professor was illustrating a point by letting a meter stick drop from an upright position down on a table with a crack and the Nam vet in the class got up and walked out. Then the professor apologized and told the rest of the class why the man had walked out.

My brothers from WWII experience were not fond of fireworks either.

I would just as soon have fireworks outlawed as I remember one year in OKC that 5 families who had gone of for the weekend came home to find their homes burned down because neighbors had shot fireworks and accidently started the houses on fire. With current conditions, Pocatello, ID where 66 homes burned last weekend has outlawed fireworks for this year telling people to save them for New Year's Eve.

Each Fourth evening I stand outside of our house with a hose ready to put out any fireworks embers that might land on my trees or shrubbery.

[Gina Stevenson]

Here, they're wondering if it was possibly fireworks (heard later possibly electrical?) that took a church. Have gone by it many times, as it is on a common route of mine:

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapi...hardly_an.html

[Lee Branum]

It's different in Eastern Washington Dave...fireworks in your possession in the City of Spokane is a $513 fine. No fireworks are allowed at all in all areas of Spokane County except the private property areas of the town of Airway Heights. There have been some pretty serious fires due to fireworks, so they've been pretty much outlawed here except for professional displays. But we'll have a great 4th of July anyway! We'll just go to Idaho!

I was the same way when I came back from Vietnam Dave. I had to sleep on the floor for two nights, the bed was too soft. My brother came up behind me one night, and I threw him over my shoulder and scared him to death. I suggested he not do that again. I can handle most anything now, like you. I will always be aware of my surroundings though...and that's a good thing.

[Zach Wingo]

I met a family online and then discovered the husband was keeping a blog for family/friends. He apparently was struggling a lot with PTSD as a result of the Iraq war and he talked a lot about the fear he death with constantly. He talked about how he couldn't walk anywhere near manhole covers or backpacks because he always felt like there was an explosive in them. He was conditioned to avoid certain things and places that one wouldn't necessarily worry about here so he was constantly living in fear. For him it wasn't so much noises that brought on the fear. I'm not sure what makes the modern wars different and the role reality of the PTSD since it seems so much more common nowadays.

[John Kennedy]

Notice that Bainbridge Island had their display a bit early. Guess the caretaker of the pyro stuff decided to do a little rifle practice accidentally detonated things.

[Gina Stevenson]

I'm not sure what makes the modern wars different and the role reality of the PTSD since it seems so much more common nowadays.

Or maybe just realized more readily, now that it was given a name however long ago??

[Gina Stevenson]

Heard today they had to rule out anything electrical, after investigating further, having to revert to their initial suspicions re fireworks landing on the roof and starting it there. Sad result of fireworks, for sure. Here in our neighborhood last night several houses were setting them off ... some were pretty, but tried to keep track of their direction when going up, just in case.

ETA: would guess that those who were setting them off nearby are wondering whether to 'fess up ... or not, knowing what destruction their "fun" caused.

Here, they're wondering if it was possibly fireworks (heard later possibly electrical?) that took a church. Have gone by it many times, as it is on a common route of mine:

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapi...hardly_an.html

[Dave McClung]

I met a family online and then discovered the husband was keeping a blog for family/friends. He apparently was struggling a lot with PTSD as a result of the Iraq war and he talked a lot about the fear he death with constantly. He talked about how he couldn't walk anywhere near manhole covers or backpacks because he always felt like there was an explosive in them. He was conditioned to avoid certain things and places that one wouldn't necessarily worry about here so he was constantly living in fear. For him it wasn't so much noises that brought on the fear. I'm not sure what makes the modern wars different and the role reality of the PTSD since it seems so much more common nowadays.

Zach, PTSD has been around as long as war. We are just paying more attention now. But, in my opinion, many of the people who suffer from PTSD would have had problems even if they hadn't served in the military. Life is stressful. I have known a lot of people who have suffered from stress who have not served in the military at all.

[Roy Richardson]

At a graduate course at the University of Oklahoma a professor was illustrating a point by letting a meter stick drop from an upright position down on a table with a crack and the Nam vet in the class got up and walked out. Then the professor apologized and told the rest of the class why the man had walked out.

My brothers from WWII experience were not fond of fireworks either.

I would just as soon have fireworks outlawed as I remember one year in OKC that 5 families who had gone of for the weekend came home to find their homes burned down because neighbors had shot fireworks and accidently started the houses on fire. With current conditions, Pocatello, ID where 66 homes burned last weekend has outlawed fireworks for this year telling people to save them for New Year's Eve.

Each Fourth evening I stand outside of our house with a hose ready to put out any fireworks embers that might land on my trees or shrubbery.

One year in SE Michigan, I heard bottle rockets striking either my satellite dish or aluminum gutters. There was a distinctive pinging sound.

[Roy Richardson]

Heard today they had to rule out anything electrical, after investigating further, having to revert to their initial suspicions re fireworks landing on the roof and starting it there. Sad result of fireworks, for sure. Here in our neighborhood last night several houses were setting them off ... some were pretty, but tried to keep track of their direction when going up, just in case.

ETA: would guess that those who were setting them off nearby are wondering whether to 'fess up ... or not, knowing what destruction their "fun" caused.

One more argument in favor of the metal roof folks. I saw a lot of them in Colorado for fire protection reasons.

[Gina Stevenson]

One more argument in favor of the metal roof folks. I saw a lot of them in Colorado for fire protection reasons.

Would guess ~~ at least hope ~~ that when the church rebuilds, they do have such a roof, rather than the conventional rooftop. Know when out West tho't it a really good idea that many places have the stone tile roofs ... while not metal, not at all as combustible as the tar roofs.

[Marsha Lynn]

I'm not sure what makes the modern wars different and the role reality of the PTSD since it seems so much more common nowadays.

It has a new name anyway. I think it used to go by the term "shell shocked."

[Marsha Lynn]

Things are so dry here we have a burn ban in effect. Some fireworks displays have been cancelled, but the one we attend annually went on as planned. The official fireworks are shot off over a lake. However, personal fireworks were completely banned in the park. I have never heard things so quiet during the 4th of July celebration -- not a single firecracker or bottle rocket or even a sparkler. I suspect anyone lighting a match in the park would have been doused by those around them. We saw just a few paper lanterns floating up into the sky, maybe from the other side of the lake, and the comments made concerning them were pretty negative.

[Steven Burton]

The have found that First Person Shooters, video games with guns. Can help those who suffer from PTSD due to combat.

[Steven Burton]

Zach, PTSD has been around as long as war. We are just paying more attention now. But, in my opinion, many of the people who suffer from PTSD would have had problems even if they hadn't served in the military. Life is stressful. I have known a lot of people who have suffered from stress who have not served in the military at all.

Yup PTSD is not just for veterans but anybody who has experience something traumatic in life really.

[Steven Burton]

It has a new name anyway. I think it used to go by the term "shell shocked."

Shell shocked was used for veteran returning from World War I where shelling was common place in the trenches. World War 2 I think it was called something like soldiers fatigue or something. There are related cases found in ancient documents that tend to indicate the same symptoms found in soldiers f ancient Greece.

[Zach Wingo]

I agree, but based on people I know that have been diagnosed with PTSD, I have a suspicion it's become over diagnosed kind of like ADHD in kids.

[Gina Stevenson]

I agree, but based on people I know that have been diagnosed with PTSD, I have a suspicion it's become over diagnosed kind of like ADHD in kids.

Not so sure ... as traumatic as war has to be, and knowing how PTSD can affect even those having survived civil/criminal traumatic events, would almost seem abnormal for some ptsd-like reactions not to occur while someone is reacclimating back into civilian life ... admittedly worse/longer term for some than others, possibly related to how one's particular personality handles stress in the first place ... ??

[Steven Burton]

I agree, but based on people I know that have been diagnosed with PTSD, I have a suspicion it's become over diagnosed kind of like ADHD in kids.

Well ADHD is what is used to even prescribe to those who would have had ADD in the past. They kind of group those all together and made it ADHD.

[Gina Stevenson]

Some link here at NN that we saw today had some links below it. This one dealing with PTSD caught my eye, so looked for the most recent thread dealing with it.

This former FBI employee, after working around the flight 93 site, with the families involved, etc, retired due to PTSD. So, thought of how there are various instances in life that can lead to that, not just war, & that it might be something in which some would be interested. (a few folks I know came to mind, including NazNetter Ian Gentles who, we recall, was one of those helping deal with the London subway bombings of several years ago)

Lillie Leonardi,

" . . . says she wrote her book, 'In the Shadow of a Badge: A Spiritual Memoir' to encourage people dealing with PTSD and those who continue to look for comfort and answers about the terrorist attacks that day."

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/07/03...ntcmp=obinsite