VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur (PIA) – The Department of Health (DOH) in the Ilocos Region has called on the public not to buy and use firecrackers to prevent any related injury this holiday season.
In a statement, DOH Ilocos assistant regional director Rodolfo Albornoz said, “Mas makabubuting huwag ng bumili pa o magsindi ng kahit anong paputok. Mas importante na tayo at ligtas sa anumang disgrasya sa pagsalubong sa bagong taon (We should think about our safety first as we welcome a new year so it is best to refrain from purchasing or using any firecracker).”
“Legal man o iligal, ang lahat ng ito ay pumuputok and it can cause serious injury, especially to children. And they are the most affected during this holiday season dahil sila ang mga laging nasa labas ng bahay at naglalaro (These items, whether legal or illegal, pose a danger to children, who are vulnerable during the holiday season when they spend more time playing outside),” he added.
From December 21-27, the DOH-Ilocos Region reported some 25 cases of fireworks-related injuries (FWRI) with children who are mostly affected.
Such a figure is 79% higher compared to the same period last year with only 14 FWRI cases reported, according to the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU).
“Karamihan po ng mga biktima ng firecrackers ngayong taon ay mga bata kaya bantayan po natin mabuti ang ating mga anak at huwag natin silang hayaang magsindi ng anumang klase ng paputok. Bawalan din silang mamulot ng mga paputok at baka ito ay sumabog sa kanilang mga kamay (Most of the firecracker victims this year are kids that’s why we should look after our children and prevent them from using any kind of firecrackers. We should also discourage them from picking up firecrackers from the ground, as these may still ignite and cause harm to them),” Albornoz advised parents to watch their children mindfully to avoid firecracker-related injuries or deaths.
The DOH reported that there were nine cases of FWRI among individuals aged 10-14 years old, and five cases were recorded for individuals between the ages of 5-9 years old, while three cases were reported among those aged 30-34 years old.
Additionally, two cases each were recorded among individuals aged 15-19 years old and 25-29 years old, and there was one case each reported for those aged 35-39 years old, 40-44 years old, 45-49 years old, and 70-74 years old.
Albornoz said that 16 of the 25 are passive cases, mostly observers and bystanders while nine are active participants or directly in contact with the firecrackers.
A total of 21 suffered blast/burn injuries with no amputation, three suffered blast/burn with amputation injury, and one suffered an eye injury.
Pangasinan has the most FWRI cases recorded with 20 (80%) with Dagupan City having 16 FWRI cases while La Union has four (6%) cases, and Ilocos Sur with one (4%) FWRI case.
Albornoz added that 17 injuries were caused by unlabeled imported firecrackers.
“Mayroon tayong tatlong kaso ng boga, dalawa mula sa kwitis at tig-isa naman mula sa ‘one star’, piccolo at bawang (We recorded three cases of ‘boga’, two from ‘kwitis’, and one each from ‘one star’, ‘piccolo’, and ‘bawang’),” Albornoz ended.
Moreover, the DOH–Ilocos Region also called for the cooperation of all local government units and the Philippine National Police to regulate and control the sale and use of fireworks and firecrackers, especially among minors. (JCR/AMB/JMCQ, PIA Ilocos Sur)
