The use of fireworks is somewhat controversial every year on these dates, when thousands of people claim for the rights of their children with autism and also for those of their pets who suffer from very great hearing sensitivity and fireworks affect them. We tell you how to avoid it and protect them.
Children with ASD
The Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) It is characterized, among other things, by a great sensitivity in the senses, especially in the ear. That is why people with autism are extremely sensitive to external stimuli, since they perceive sounds more deeply and fireworks affect them more than the rest.
The noise of fireworks generates high levels of stress and anxiety that can lead to nervous breakdowns, tension, crying, screaming and even self-harm. Definitely: fireworks are real torture for them.
Pets and companion animals
In nature, fireworks are not well received either, since the sounds are perceived as signs of storms or adverse phenomena that scare animals. Also, both dogs and cats are sentient beings who have an exacerbated and easily stimulated auditory system.
In addition, in this state of fear, pets panic and there may even be cases of escapism, so it is crucial to keep the doors and windows closed and try to keep the holidays indoors. Cats, for example, tend to ingest the remains of products used as fireworks and can become intoxicated with them.
Keep reading: How to become your cat’s favorite person
How to protect them?
In the case of children with autism, the ideal is to follow certain strategies:
- Spend the holidays in a remote place such as the countryside, the sea, forests or simply far from the big cities.
- Generate moments of calm with games or recreational activities that allow the boys to be distracted.
- A good idea is to offer headphones with relaxing music.
- The best ways to contain physically are hugs. Additionally, some families choose to wear earplugs while engaging in other playful activities.
If you have pets it is recommended:
- Be careful that there are no doors or windows open through which the animal can escape. It is preferable to ventilate with devices inside the house.
- Play with your pet at the moment the fireworks start, so that it can concentrate on another activity.
- Offer them activities linked to pleasure such as smelling exercises in which they go around the house sniffing some food and focus their attention on that.
- It is advisable to take them out for a walk during the day as walks allow dogs to spend energy and relax later.
- For those who have to leave their pets at home alone, they can put on the television to distract them. There are even television channels with programs designed for pets during the holidays, on channels like National Geographic Y Animal Planet.
Awareness campaigns on this topic tend to focus on the message “Fireworks with more lights and less noise” since the conflict is generated mostly by auditory over-excitation. However, reducing or completely avoiding the use of pyrotechnics and fireworks is ideal.