ILOILO City – Choose healthier and safer options to celebrate the holiday season, the Department of Health (DOH) urged residents in Western Visayas.
The public health bureau reiterated its call after recording nine fireworks-related injuries from Dec. 21 to 25.
Of the nine cases, one was reported by a sentinel hospital and the eight remaining cases were from non-sentinel hospitals.
Sentinel hospitals are tertiary hospitals such as the Western Visayas Medical Center in Mandurriao district and the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City. Non-sentinel hospitals, meanwhile, refer to other healthcare facilities, like district hospitals.
Common injuries were blast and burn injuries on the hand, eyes, or other parts of the body.
There were zero cases of amputation. There were no reported cases of fireworks ingestion or stray bullet injuries as well.
Boga, or PVC cannon, caused three of the nine injuries, followed by camara.
The DOH-6 said the nine fireworks-related injuries recorded as of Dec. 25 are 44 percent lower than the 16 cases from the same period last year.
The 16 cases recorded last year were from the four sentinel hospitals and all health facilities under the eight provinces and highly urbanized cities in the region.
“Let us all choose the healthier options during this holiday season and be mindful sa mga pangmatagalan na epekto nito sa ating kalusugan para sa isang Ligtas Christmas sa Healthy Pilipinas,” the DOH-6, headed by director Dr. Adriano Suba-an, said.
Earlier, Dr. Fritzi Ann Suzette Jeroso-Dequito, head of the Health Promotion Unit of DOH-6, said the reporting of all cases of fireworks-related injuries through the Fireworks-Related Injury Surveillance System started on Dec. 21, 2023 and ends on Jan. 5, 2024.
With this, she reminded parents and guardians to be mindful when keeping an eye on children who could pick up firecrackers and cause injury.
“As much as possible, ang mga piccolo and watusi are not encouraged para sa aton nga mga bata. Mindful watching our parents with our children this holiday season,” Jeroso-Dequito said.
The DOH-6 has been campaigning as early as November to use alternative noisemakers instead of firecrackers such as sound systems, pots, bells, and car horns, among others.
Under its released guidance for safe and healthy holiday celebrations in 2023, here are the steps on how to prevent fireworks-related injuries:
* Do not use fireworks and firecrackers to avoid accidents and injury.
Use safer alternatives to firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices.
* Do not pick up unexploded fireworks with your hands.
* Know your emergency hotlines and first aid.
Firecracker wounds should be washed and taken to the nearest health facility immediately for proper treatment, said Jeroso-Dequito.
“Fireworks injuries would be an additional problem if not treated properly,” she added.
Each household should also have an emergency kit with topical antiseptics or betadine and medicines for stomach and headaches, as well as for high blood pressure./PN
