DOH urges public to refrain from firecrackers as 33 hurt in Bicol, Cebu
LEGAZPI CITY—The Department of Health (DOH) campaign for zero casualty on firecracker-related injuries failed in Bicol after 24 cases were reported in the region from Dec. 21 to Dec. 26 this year, a DOH report said on Saturday.
The report showed that Albay topped the list with 16 cases despite an earlier order from Gov. Joey Salceda banning the use of firecrackers in the province during holidays.
Six cases were reported in Camarines Sur and two in Masbate.
The victims were mostly minors, with piccolo as the leading injury-causing firecracker, the report added.
Some victims were also hurt by Five Star, kwitis, sparklers and collected firecracker powder, according to Dr. Mari Rosa Rempillo, medical specialist of DOH-Bicol.
Most of the victims were males, aged 7 to 12, who suffered minor burns that were treated in government-run clinics and hospitals, she said.
In Oas town, an 11-year-old boy was burned in the face, hand and feet after he collected and ignited the unspent firecracker powder that he gathered during the Immaculate Conception Feast Day celebration at the St. Michael the Archangel Parish Church on Dec. 8.
Dr. Emilia Monicimpo, DOH-Bicol director, urged the public to refrain from using firecrackers in welcoming 2016.
“All kinds of firecrackers are very dangerous, most particularly the powder, as it is very poisonous,” she said.
DOH records showed there were 89 cases of firecracker injuries between Christmas to New Year in 2014 and 93 cases in 2013.
Dr. Evi Sarmiento, DOH-Bicol Action Paputok Injury Reduction program coordinator, lamented that the ban on firecrackers was not strictly enforced.
“Piccolo and the watusi firecrackers have been banned in the market, but despite the ban these products are still being sold especially in sari-sari store outlets across the region,” she said.
In Cebu City, nine persons, including a month-old baby, were hurt by firecracker blasts during the Christmas Eve revelry in Central Visayas.
One person was killed while nine were also brought to the hospital after they figured in a vehicular accident in Cebu province while heading to church to attend the traditional Misa de Aguinaldo.
According to Rennan Cimafranca, Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit of DOH in Central Visayas, said most of the victims suffered minor burns and were not confined in hospitals.
Except for the 3-year-old girl who was accidentally hit by a firecracker on Dec. 23 in Amlan town, Negros Oriental, the rest of the incidents happened between Thursday night and Friday dawn during the revelry to welcome Christmas.
One of the victims was a month and 9-day-old infant who suffered a first degree burn on the face after being hit by splinters of the firecrackers.
A 41-year-old drunk man also suffered burns in the hand where a whistle bomb exploded.
Of the nine victims, four were from Cebu City, two each from the cities of Mandaue and Talisay and one from Amlan.
There was no reported victim of indiscriminate firing.
Supt. Romeo Santander, Cebu City intelligence chief, said Christmas celebration was peaceful in the capital city.
In Cebu province, at least 10 persons were hurt after they figured in a vehicular accident on Christmas Eve.
Most of the victims were onboard separate motorcycles and were heading to church to attend the Christmas Eve Mass.
According to the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation, one of the victims died at the South General Hospital in Naga City, Cebu.
The victim was driving a motorcycle on their way to Talisay City from Barili town when the vehicle crashed in Naga City.
The name of the fatality was not available but his sister, Emma Cabajosa, was also hurt and was brought to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City for treatment. Mar Arguelles and Michael Jaucian, Inquirer Southern Luzon; Jhunnex Napallacan, Inquirer Visayas
