Hospitals in CV on Code White for the holidays

CEBU, Philippines - Enjoy the holidays without firecracker-related injuries, the Department of Health-7 reminded the public anew as it placed the whole region under Code White.

"All public hospitals will be on code white from December 21 to January 5. We, likewise, urge the private hospitals. Though we know that they have always been ready to respond to emergencies," Health Emergencies Management Staff  chief Dr. Expedito Medalla said yesterday.

Hospitals are placed on Code White Alert when there is a potential for mass casualty incidents like at the height of typhoon Ruby. This means that a hospital's emergency medicines, especially trauma, are fully stocked and made available at the emergency room.

Medicines and supplies in the operating rooms should also be reviewed and increased to meet sudden requirements. The hospital should also be able to provide other needs like x-ray plates and laboratory requirements and patients should not be required to purchase the same.

Medalla said the public should avoid firecrackers to avoid injuries that can lead to amputation, even death.

DOH recently launched its seasonal campaign, "Mahalaga ang Buhay, Iwasan ang Paputok", in time for Christmas and New Year.

Records show that in the December 21 to January 2 period, injuries related to holiday celebration in Central Visayas increased by 18 percent in 2013 with 99 cases compared to the 84 cases in 2012.

In the past two years, Cebu pitched in most of the cases: 64 blast/burn without amputation for 2013, an increase from the 58 cases in 2012.

Last year, while the age range is from 1 to 65, most of the persons injured were 11-year-old boys.

The firecrackers victims use commonly include kwitis, piccolo, pirate, sparkler, thick long, tirangle, whistle bomb, hotdog, flying tiger, watusi, lantaka, and fountain,

Areas with reported injuries were in Cebu City (33 cases), Lapu-Lapu City (18), Talisay City (11), Mandaue City (10).

In Central Visayas, the areas where the cases were recorded include Dauis (3), Danao City (3), Naga City (2), Balamban (2) Cordova (2), Dumaguete City (2), Consolacion (1), Getafe (1), Loay (1), Medellin (1), Oslob (1) San Remigio (1), Sta. Catalina (1), Talibon (1), Toledo City (1), Ubay (1), Zamboangita (1).

In 2012, Cebu province topped the most number of injuries without amputation at 58 cases, followed by Bohol (4 cases), and Negros Oriental and Siquijor with one case each. 

The most number of people that had to be amputated came from Cebu in 2012 and 2013 with nine and six cases, respectively.

There two cases of stray bullets fired recorded in 2012 and 2013 while one case of watusi ingestion was recorded last year.

Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit chief Dr. Dino Caing also stressed the importance of observing a healthy lifestyle during the celebrations.

"This season, colds, cough, respiratory infections are very common. So is gastroenteritis due to too much eating and drinking.                      Di ta magpalabi ug inom labina kung mag drive pa to prevent vehicular accidents," Caing cautioned. —  (FREEMAN)