World’s ‘safest firecracker’ packs a lot of bang

NOT A GIANT ‘PLA-PLA’ Health Secretary Enrique Ona (at right) and Health Undersecretary Eric Tayag show a compact disc containing sounds of firecrackers. The “explosive CD” was launched Wednesday at East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City. RAFFY LERMA

Good news to New Year revelers: the Department of Health (DOH) has found the “safest firecracker” in the world. And you don’t need a match but a good sound system to make it work.

Dubbed “Goodbye Paputok” to rival the popular firecracker “Goodbye Philippines,” the “safest firecracker” comes in the form of a CD that contains recordings of sounds produced by eight of the most dangerous firecrackers in the country.

The CD’s contents include the sounds of a five-star, “watusi,” Super Lolo, Judas Belt, whistle bomb, “kwitis,” “luces” (sparklers) and “trompillo,” capped with a countdown and a recording of a fireworks symphony.

Most dangerous

Most of these have been listed as among the most dangerous firecrackers in the country in a DOH report last year.

The five-star, watusi and Super Lolo have been banned but their manufacture and sale continue.

Assistant Health Secretary Eric Tayag yesterday said copies of the CD, aimed at providing the “safest firecracker experience” among revelers this New Year, were being distributed to local governments in Metro Manila. The metropolis has the highest number of firecracker-related injuries every year.

Filipino band

The CD was produced in collaboration with Herbert Hernandez, lead guitarist of 6cyclemind, a Filipino band, Tayag told reporters at a press briefing in Manila.

Tayag said Hernandez, who also works in an advertising agency, offered to help the DOH in its effort to curb the high incidence of injuries from the indiscriminate use of firecrackers.

“They suggested the idea to us so we sat down in a meeting for some brainstorming,” Tayag said.  “We also improved the idea during that meeting.”

Free copies to LGUs

At least 500 copies were produced for free. The copies were set to be distributed to local government units in the capital, which has registered 89 cases or 63 percent of firecracker-related injuries as of Wednesday.

The DOH is leaving it up to the local government to distribute the CDs to households, according to Tayag.

He said the contents of the CD would also be made available on the health agency’s website, www.doh.gov.ph, in time for the New Year this weekend.

“Instead of lighting up a firecracker to usher in 2012, people could play it instead on their radio,” said Tayag.

Tradition, injured kids

Filipinos traditionally set off firecrackers to make a lot of noise on New Year’s Eve. They believe that the noise will banish bad luck and drive away evil spirits.

But thousands—the majority of whom are children—end up in hospitals yearly due to firecracker injuries following the New Year festivities.

As of yesterday, the DOH had monitored 141 injuries caused by firecrackers, stray bullets and firework ingestion, a 24-percent jump from Tuesday’s figures. Of this number, seven injuries were caused by stray bullets and one by firecracker poisoning.

At least 80 percent of the firecracker-related injuries were caused by piccolo, according to the latest tally.

Studying the daily report that started on Dec. 21, Tayag said the number of firecracker-related incidences this year may surpass last year’s 972 cases.

Pyromusical display

In Marikina City, the city government is all set for a yearend concert on Friday night as a way to dissuade residents from lighting up firecrackers and invite them to watch its pyromusical display instead.

Celebrities and entertainers, including comedian Vice Ganda, will be performing at the concert at the Marikina Sports Park starting at 5 p.m. It will be followed by a fireworks display which is expected to brighten the sky for around 15 minutes.

“Through the concert, we encourage our residents to witness our pyromusical displays instead of having their own,” De Guzman added.

As giveaways, the first 3,500 people to arrive at the concert will receive a free bulb-key chain which can be used during the fireworks countdown, he said.

The city government will also be raffling off prizes, including a Samsung tablet, to lucky people.

On the morning of Friday, inflatable rides set up at the old entrance of the Marikina Sports Park will be offered to children for free.

“This has been a yearly tradition for the city of Marikina. We want to make the yearend celebration memorable for Marikeños,” De Guzman said in an e-mailed statement.

De Guzman echoed the advice of the DOH for everyone to have a complete and stress-free Yuletide celebration by joining community fireworks displays, street parties and concerts.

He said that in lieu of lighting firecrackers, revelers could make some noise to welcome the New Year by using trumpets, vehicle horns and tin cans.  With a report from Niña Calleja