DOH Eastern Visayas notes 30% rise in firecracker-related injuries

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 6 (PNA) –Injuries from holiday revelry in Eastern Visayas posted a 30 percent increase this year as more people were hurt by igniting firecrackers and fireworks allowed by law.

Roderick Boyd Cerro, chief of the Department of Health (DOH) regional epidemiology and surveillance unit said number of cases has risen from 70 last year to 101 as of midnight of January 5.

Fingers of two children in this city were amputated. The two victims ignited lolo thunder and kwitis.

Unlike last year, there was no single victim of stray bullet. Most cases are minor blasts while some suffered eye injury.

Majority or 70 percent of cases were injured due to piccolo ignited by children below 11 years old. The youngest victims is one year old while the oldest is 62.

“Our concern was that more number of victims were injured by firecrackers and fireworks not banned by the government. It’s time to really check the quality of these products even if these are legal,” he said.

Of the 101 injuries, 37 were reported in Northern Samar, 26 in Eastern Samar, 25 in Leyte, 10 in Samar, and two in Biliran province.

“We believe that there were more victims in Northern Samar because power outages and other impacts of typhoon Nona disrupted our Iwas Paputok information drive. Disaster response has been the top priority,” Cerro said.

The government has launched its monitoring of Christmas and New Year revelries on December 16, 2015 and concluded on January 5, 2016. (PNA)
FPV/SARWELL Q. MENIANO

DOH Eastern Visayas revives campaign vs. firecrackers use

PALO, Leyte, Dec. 4 (PNA) – The Department of Health (DOH) in Eastern Visayas is stepping up its campaign to prevent firecracker related injuries during Christmas and New Year revelries.

DOH Regional Director Minerva P. Molon said they are bringing the “Aksyon: Paputok Injury Reduction” campaign to schools since most victims are school children.

“We will advocate in schools that children won’t buy firecrackers. It’s easy to educate children through classes,” Molon told reporters.

From December 2014 to early January 2015, the region recorded 70 firecracker-related injuries with most victims are children.

Although the campaign is to bring down the number of cases to zero, the DOH regional office is also beefing up their preparations to treat victims.

At least 50,000 anti-tetanus and antibiotics have been preposition for use during emergencies. The health department also conducts inventory of current stocks of medicines needed this month.

“We will coordinate with other government agencies to respond to emergencies. We are on code white alert this month, which means that all health workers are on call,” Molon added.

The DOH reminded the public that use of firecrackers is dangerous, firecrackers are hazardous to children, avoid people who are using firecrackers, not to pick up and use busted firecrackers, and go to nearest hospital in case of accidents.

Among the direct negative health effects of misuse of fireworks and firecrackers are blast or burns with or without amputation, eye injury that might lead to blindness, tetanus, poisoning, and death.

The health department encouraged the public to use alternative and safer means to celebrate Christmas and New Year. (PNA)
FFC/SQM