THE ANNUAL surge in firecracker-related injuries, especially during the holidays, brings with it – aside from hospital visits – a considerable financial burden on the healthcare system and the economy. Last year in Western Visayas, 294 individuals suffered injuries from firecrackers, requiring emergency care, hospitalization, and in severe cases, long-term treatment. While the human cost is immediately evident, the economic strain placed on hospitals, local government units, and families is often overlooked.
Each injury represents a resource drain on our already-stretched healthcare system. Hospitals in Iloilo, Bacolod, and other parts of the region experience a seasonal spike in admissions around the holidays, putting added pressure on medical staff and facilities. The Department of Health’s (DOH) recent Code White Alert ensures that hospitals are prepared to handle these injuries, but the preparation requires costly adjustments — more personnel, additional medical supplies, and expanded emergency service hours. These are resources that could be used to address chronic health issues affecting the community year-round.
For families, the cost of treatment for firecracker injuries can be devastating. The expense of emergency care, surgeries, and follow-up treatments is often a financial blow, especially for lower-income households. Moreover, if an injury results in disability or long-term impairment, it impacts the family’s livelihood, especially if the injured person is the household’s primary breadwinner. This cumulative economic impact extends beyond the immediate holiday season, straining household budgets for months or even years.
Local governments also shoulder a significant financial burden. Emergency preparedness for firecracker injuries involves not only healthcare spending but also a multi-agency collaboration, drawing in the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Philippine National Police, and local responders. Coordinated campaigns, injury surveillance, and emergency response planning all require substantial investment. This financial strain highlights an unfortunate irony: funds that could be directed toward enhancing public services, health education, or community projects are instead funneled into preventing and treating preventable injuries.
The annual healthcare costs associated with firecracker injuries could otherwise support preventive measures and health education programs. Imagine if the budget allocated to emergency medical responses and rehabilitation could instead fund initiatives to improve public health infrastructure, provide health insurance coverage, or even reduce poverty in the region.
This economic toll should prompt a serious reconsideration of holiday practices that involve dangerous fireworks. Public awareness campaigns, stricter regulation, and enforced penalties for selling unlicensed firecrackers are essential. Beyond policy, though, there is a need for a cultural shift in how we celebrate. If communities across Western Visayas embrace safer alternatives and celebrate with greater caution, we could reduce the economic drain that firecracker injuries impose year after year.
