DOH again appeals for less dangerous New Year celebration

UNSAFE; Trade Undersecretary Ruth Castelo shows illegal fireworks being sold at a stall in Bocaue, Bulacan, during an inspection on Dec. 22. (Photo by GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — As it usually does around this time every year, the Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday again urged the public to welcome the New Year with festive fireworks displays instead of illegal firecrackers to prevent injuries during the holiday revelry.

“[You may] opt to [join or watch] community fireworks displays [but] follow minimum health protocols to prevent possible superspreader events for COVID-19,” it advised revelers.

The DOH said that instead of fireworks, the public may also use alternative noise- and light-producing devices such as sound systems, bells, pans or tambourines in order to prevent debilitating and life-threatening injuries.

No to ‘torotot,’ too

Earlier, the health agency also advised against using torotot or toy trumpets or horns traditionally used as noisemakers to welcome the New Year, saying these may turn out to be just as harmful as powerful firecrackers as these may cause COVID-19 transmission.

Horns, trumpets, or whistles can spread the virus through saliva and aerosols discharged into the air, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said earlier.

The DOH also called on local governments to intensify the campaign on “Iwas Paputok” and enforcement of Executive Order No. 28 series of 2017, also known as “Providing for the Regulation and Control of the Use of Firecrackers and Other Pyrotechnic Devices.”

The DOH reported that a total of 26 injuries related to fireworks has been recorded since Dec. 21. The figure was 86 percent higher compared to cases recorded last year, which was only 14.“There was no fireworks ingestion, stray bullet injury or death reported,” the DOH said.

Twenty-one cases had blast or burn injuries, seven of which required amputation. Six others sustained eye injuries.

Prohibited firecrackers such as boga, five-star, piccolo, and triangle accounted for the top causes of injuries.