Jenny and David Jones, volunteers with the Alna Fire Department, experienced a terrifying moment for any parent – their 12-year-old son, while trying to recreate an experiment he had seen online, sustained second-degree burns to his hands.
“It was so scary,” said Jenny Jones, a mother of four. “As a mom, it was the first time I really didn’t know what to do.”
The Jones family spent a week in Boston with their son, D.J., as he underwent treatment at the Shriners hospital burn center. The Alna Fire Department rallied to support the family, and Jenny Jones said she is thankful.
“We left so fast, we weren’t able to make any arrangements,” Jenny Jones said. “The fire department stepped in to help. We’re so grateful. We can’t thank them enough.”
The family has chickens and dogs. They were taken care of while the family was away, she said. The fire department association donated money so they could cover their expenses while their son underwent treatment.
Department members also promoted an online fundraiser, which was established by one of the family’s close friends.
“We really had no idea how long we were going to be down there,” she said. After a week, they returned home Saturday, Aug. 6. D.J.’s wounds are healing well and the family is doing fine, Jenny Jones said.
The gofundme account is no longer necessary, Jenny Jones said. “We’re going to be okay,” she said.
David Jones has been a member of the Alna Fire Department since the family moved to Alna about two years ago. They became involved through a friend on the department.
Jenny Jones recently joined the department as well, and is now serving as its secretary.
The Jones family has lectured their children about fire safety, but the lectures did not stop their 12-year-old from filling a plastic jug with aerosol and lighting it on fire, as he had seen done online, Jenny Jones said.
The experiment resulted in deep, second-degree burns. D.J. was first transported to LincolnHealth’s Miles Campus in Damariscotta, then to the Maine Medical Center in Portland, then to Shriners Hospitals for Children – Boston for treatment.
The medical staff that worked with the Jones family and the hospital care was fantastic, Jenny Jones said.
“As parents, you do the best you can to drill (fire safety) into their heads,” Jenny Jones. Her son’s experience at the burn center with seeing other burn victims has hopefully helped him understand what could have happened, she said. Jenny Jones encouraged all parents to have the talk about fire safety again with their children, and, if the message does not appear to be getting through, to perhaps even visit a burn center.
“Thank God nothing further happened,” Jenny Jones said. “Everyone’s been so super supportive. We’re so grateful to have the community we have here.”
