DOH warns public against firecrackers, indiscriminate firing

CEBU, Philippines - Since injuries from firecrackers and stray bullets are expected during the holiday season, the Department of Health 7 (DOH) has made preparations in anticipation of such.

Hospitals are all ready for the coming holidays with its “code white”, which means all doctors and nurses are on call.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) 7 is also monitoring stalls selling firecrackers and explosives.

The health department warns the public to be wary of accidents, especially among children below 10 years old as they have always been the most affected age group.

DOH 7 Director Susana Madarieta said they had been campaigning and giving reminders to the people to be more careful and not to allow children to get hold of firecrackers.

Designating a common place for fireworks is also most ideal, she stressed, to avoid accidents.

Madarieta also warned people with guns to be careful, as there have been three to five cases of victims of stray bullets each year wherein some of the victims died, while others went into comatose.

The Cebu City Memorial Medical Center (CCMC) and the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) announced they are ready.

Senior Physician Dr. Louis Anthony Delos Reyes of the CCMC Surgical Department told The FREEMAN that they are ready for any incidents during Christmas and the remaining days of the year.

They have been in full alert since December 1 and have also prepared their Emergency and Trauma Room with all its surgical equipment.

Meanwhile, the VSMMC in a letter also expressed their readiness for Christmas-related incidents. It recently created the Saint Arnolds Janssen Trauma Center for trauma cases.

VSMMC assures all firecracker patients would be given special attention.

Most of the cases that were reported last year were caused by firecrackers like piccolo, “kwitis”, five-star and homemade firecrackers.

Based on DOH records, the number of firecracker victims decreased since 2005. Authorities attributed this to their intensive campaign against the use of firecrackers during Christmas and the New Year.

A team from the BFP 7 was at the South Road Properties yesterday, where five stalls were built.

Cebu City Fire Marshall Aderson Comar is requiring each stall to have a pail of water in case of fire, and that minors should not be allowed to sell firecrackers.

Vendors were asked to get a business permit from the City Hall and a fire clearance from the BFP.

Comar reminds the public to have proper electrical connections and to avoid substandard wirings.

“Dapat mag-andam og baldi nga tubig, avoid Octopus connection, kung magsugod na ang kayo palungon ang planka,” he said, adding that establishments must not lock their fire exits. — (THE FREEMAN)