By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
The Department of Health (DOH) reported Tuesday that the number of fireworks-related injuries in Western Visayas has increased to 17 ahead of the New Year’s celebration.
The DOH reported eight new cases between December 25 to December 26, on top of nine cases from December 21.
Two of the cases were recorded at sentinel hospitals, while the remaining 15 were reported 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 refer to other healthcare facilities, like district hospitals.
Common injuries involved blast and burn wounds on the hands, eyes, or other parts of the body.
There were no incidents of amputation, ingestion of fireworks, or injuries caused by stray bullets.
Most common causes of injuries are illegal fireworks, such as camara, 5star, watusi, and homemade cannons locally known as “Boga.”
According to the DOH, the reported cases are 29 percent lower compared to the 24 cases reported during the corresponding period last year.
The public health bureau further advised local government units to heighten efforts to stop the sale and use of illegal fireworks and promote community fireworks displays instead of household use.
Parents are also urged to look over their children and lead by example by using noise-making alternatives.
“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 added.
In Iloilo, health workers in the 13 district hospitals of the province of Iloilo are on alert to respond to firework-related injuries or incidents.
“All of our province-run district hospitals are on alert for that,” said Defensor during a press conference last week.
The DOH has already placed the hospitals in Iloilo under a “code white” alert status in which medical personnel are “on call for immediate mobilization” in responding to emergencies.
Defensor also urged local government units to enact ordinances prohibiting the use of firecrackers and individual fireworks displays within their jurisdictions.
When he was still the representative of the 3rd District of Iloilo in 2014, Defensor filed a measure seeking to regulate the manufacture and use of fireworks to promote public health, safety, and order.
Under the bill, Defensor proposed the creation of a Fireworks Industry Inter-agency Committee would be created to implement the program.
“I filed that bill because if you look at every New Year, what’s the headline? Is it the fireworks? No, it’s the emergency room. The news we are seeing on New Year’s day is the emergency rooms and not really the celebration,” the governor said.
He furthered that regulating the use of fireworks and firecrackers particularly during the holiday season would reduce the influx of firework-related incidents in healthcare facilities every December.
