Beep beep: Bomb squad builds noise-making Easter eggs for blind kids

25 Mar, 2016 19:00

Egg hunts are a traditional Easter practice in the US, with children looking everywhere for brightly colored eggs. Bomb techs at one suburban Maryland fire department took the time to ensure blind kids could enjoy Easter too.

Ordnance disposal technicians at the Prince George’s County Fire Department – in the Maryland suburb of Washington, DC – spent several hours earlier this week building four dozen “beeping” Easter eggs for visually impaired children.

Made in red, green, blue and yellow plastic, the “eggs” were wired to emit a beeping sound when the switch is turned on, helping the children track them down.

The eggs were “constructed to allow for multi-time use and rough handling,” according to PGCFD spokesman Mark Brady. The materials were donated by the International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators.

“It was a drill that goes over basic electronics and allows me and the bomb techs to enhance our skills,” bomb squad commander Captain Shajahan Jagtiani, told the Washington Post. But “putting the eggs together, it is also something bigger than us.”

It took the team about five hours to put the 48 “eggs” together, Jagtiani said. They were then handed over to the Vision Program, part of the Department of Special Education of Prince George's County Public Schools.