Meth labs typically end up harming people, whether through the drugs they produce, through the dangerous chemicals they use or through explosions when something goes wrong. Unfortunately, the last possible meth lab we reported about produced a victim — a 1-year-old baby — who had nothing to do with any step of the drug-making business.

We were glad to see that Shelby County Sheriff’s deputies responded swiftly to reports that the child had chemical burns on his or her body. Because of their quick action, the child is now expected to survive — an outcome that could have been very different had law enforcement not alertly reacted.

We also appreciate those who took the time to notice that the child was burned and cared enough to report it to law enforcement. Those people, whoever they may be, played a vital part in this child still being alive today.

The deputies arrested a man and woman, Robert Wayne English of Wilsonville and Brandy Michele Shawver of Shelby, and charged them with allegedly manufacturing methamphetamine.

Meth is one of the most dangerous illegal drugs on the planet, and its effects on the human body and on users’ lives are devastating. It’s a tragedy when meth causes users to waste away, physically and mentally — however, it is doubly so when meth, or its production, causes harm to innocent victims, such as this baby.

The Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force asks citizens to report any illegal activity by phone at 670-0436 or by visiting the website at Dtf.shelbyal.com.

If you know of any methamphetamine production happening in your neighborhood or somewhere in Shelby County, please let law enforcement know. Your tip could be the difference between life and death for innocent children and adults. Someone cared enough to report the chemical burns they noticed on a baby, and a possible meth lab was dismantled. That’s a good day’s work.

The We Say is the opinion of the Shelby County Reporter editorial board.