DOH notes drop in blast injuries

CEBU, Philippines - There are fewer cases of firecracker injuries this year compared to last year.

The Department of Health (DOH) said that there were only nine cases reported during the Christmas celebration, which is two less than the number last year.

DOH Regional Director Dr. Susana Madarieta, however, said that that they expect more cases as the New Year celebration nears.

Last year, a total of 57 people were brought to various private and public hospitals for firecracker-related injuries. Of the number 46 were from Cebu.

Madarieta said that most of the nine cases reported were in Metro Cebu.

The youngest victim was two years old while the oldest was 35. The median age, however, is nine years old.

Madarieta also said that among the victims, only one needed to be confined in the hospital while the rest only sustained minor injuries.

She remains hopeful that with this marked decrease in blast cases, the number for the New Year celebration would also be lower than last year.

Hit by stray bullets

Madarieta also added that there were two reports of victims of stray bullets last Christmas.

One was in Bulacao and the other in Labangon, both in Cebu City.

Last year, there were five reported victims of stray bullets.

Madarieta said that they are happy to announce that they have not received any reported any case of food poisoning.

She said that they will be closely monitoring this and both public and private hospitals are part of their sentinel sites, which give them automatic feedback in case there are cases of minor or major food poisoning.

She reminds the public to continue on being careful on the food preparations and also where the food is bought in order to prevent stale ingredients.

Aside from this, Madarieta said that they do not have surveillance when it comes to individual admittances to hospitals due to hypertension or other effects of food intake which is why they have given reminders to the public prior to the holiday season on being cautious about the food they eat.

Torotots not really safe

   Meanwhile, Madarieta issued a warning to parents not to allow their children, especially the small ones, to use a horn, locally known as tororot, which has a tiny whistle made of bamboo.

Madarieta said the whistle is only attached to the horn with the use of a scotch tape and it might detached once the user blows the horn, and he might swallow the whistle and gets choked.

“I-sure gyud na dili defective ang torotot, dapat maayo ang pagkapilit sa whistle. Mas maayo, ayaw pagamita ang mga gagmayng bata,” Madarieta said.

Madarieta issued the warning after discovering the rampant sale of torotots which are widely used by children in welcoming New Year.

Peaceful celebration

Cebu City Police Intelligence chief Romeo Santander said that the Christmas celebration was generally peaceful.

He added that their preparations proved very effective as they observed a decrease in criminal activities in the past days. 

Despite the fact that there were shooting incidents since 24th, he claimed that this should not be a cause for alarm, because all were “isolated cases” and most were not high profile.  

Further, he urges the public to support their operations and continue to be vigilant in preventing criminal activities from happening in their respective localities.

The heightened alert of the police here will continue until the Sinulog celebration in the third week of January, Santander said. 

“Wala na tay break sa atong mga police operations,” he added.

He also said that they are currently monitoring a criminal group which might wreak havoc in the city in the coming year as there is an expected increase in economic and tourist activities.

Likewise, he also assures the public that they are constantly monitoring all of their men especially after two reported cases of people being hit by stray bullets in the city.   

He said that if the owner of the firearms used are licensed, it would be easy to trace, but if unlicensed guns are used, they would have a very hard time finding the culprits. — with Ryan Christopher J. Sorote and Niña G. Sumacot/NLQ  (FREEMAN)