Drive aims to reduce kids hurt by firecrackers

With most cases of firecracker related injuries last year coming from the 1-10 age group, the Health Department is intensifying its campaign and partnering with local government units to prevent these injuries from happening this year.

Health authorities said there were 330 cases of children injured by fireworks or firecrackers, which made up 34 percent of these kinds of injuries nationwide.

Dr. Expedito Medalla, head of the Regional Epidemiological and Surviellance Unit (RESU-7) of DOH, said most of the cases of injuries, however, happened to children from ages 8 to 10 years old.

According to the data from the Health Department, the firecracker-related cases reached their peak on  Dec. 31 and January 1. Most injuries were also caused by piccolo, kwitis, five star, pla-pla and luces.

To prevent or reduce these cases,  Medalla said that the Health Department had tapped the local government units to help them disseminate information on how to safely celebrate the holidays with the early launching of its Aksyon Paputok Injury Reduction “Give Me Five” Campaign (APIR).

The campaign was launched last Nov. 24. It involves disseminating five reminders to safely celebrate the holidays.

“Nagsugod ta sa atong campaign even before the month of December,” said DOH 7 Director Susana Madarietta. Madarietta said that the campaign will end on January 5.

The five reminders are: (1) Fireworks cause injuries and endanger health; (2) children should not use any fireworks; (3) keep safe and away from exploding fireworks; (4) never pick used fireworks; (5) seek immediate medical treatment for all firework injuries.

The LGUs will be asked to monitor their constituents and to help disseminate the APIR reminders.

“We are encouraging the local government units that they will be monitoring areas where pwede magpabuto ang ilang constituents” said Medalla.

Health Secretary Enrique Ona also gave five simple tips for a complete and stress-free holiday celebration.

One of its main tips is the promotion and creation of Community Fireworks Displays. These areas will be situated at ideal locations with adequate buffer zones to avoid injury to individual, fire hazards and other accidents. /Correspondent Tweeny Malinao