SMASHUP A sport utility vehicle remains in the middle of United Nations Avenue in Manila after it hit at least seven vehicles on Dec. 9. —Richard A. Reyes
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday cautioned holiday travelers to wear safety gear, obey traffic regulations, and avoid driving when drunk or exhausted to avoid accidents.
The DOH reported 284 injuries from road traffic incidents from Dec. 22 to 6 a.m. of Dec. 27, which was nine percent more than the number of cases recorded in the same period last year.
Of the 284 injured, 53 were found to have been under the influence of alcohol, 248 did not use safety accessories, and 196 were on motorcycles.
READ: Fixing Metro Manila’s road safety crisis
The DOH said motorcycle riders should not forget to wear helmets, while passengers of other types of vehicles should wear seat belts. Drivers should also comply with speed limits and road traffic signs.
The agency recommended that drivers rest seven to eight hours before traveling and avoid distractions during the trip, such as using mobile phones.
The DOH said sentinel hospitals also reported 71 cases of acute stroke from Dec. 21 to Dec. 27 as part of its monitoring during the holiday season.
It was the first time the department collated statistics for stroke and heart attack cases as part of its monitoring service.
“Forty-one patients had acute coronary syndrome, and 46 had asthma,” Albert Domingo, assistant secretary and spokesperson for the DOH, said in a government television interview.
Domingo said stroke and heart attack cases tend to rise before Christmas and eventually decline after the holidays, so he advised the public to avoid binge eating and drinking, as these habits could increase the risk of stroke and heart attack.
Appropriate medication
For bronchial asthma, Domingo cautioned that cases might surge during New Year’s Eve due to firecrackers and gunpowder particles in the air.
“There are a lot of firecrackers and gunpowder in the air, so those with asthma must be cautious as the New Year approaches,” he said, reminding asthma sufferers to make sure they have appropriate medication.
“Make sure your inhaler isn’t empty, check if it is still working,” he added.
The DOH earlier warned against holiday heart syndrome, caused by excessive alcohol consumption, stress, and unhealthy eating, which can elevate blood pressure and trigger arrhythmia, a risk factor for stroke.
“The holiday heart syndrome is a combination of atrial fibrillation, abnormal heartbeat of atrium or part of the heart following binge drinking or excessive drinking of alcohol,” the DOH said.
“The DOH monitors the acute complications of noncommunicable diseases. These are stroke, acute coronary syndrome and bronchial asthma,” it added.
It also reported an increase in stroke cases at the Philippine Heart Center, East Avenue Medical Center and St. Luke’s Medical Center, all in Quezon City, from December to January each year. —with a report from PNA