Firecracker injuries hit 128

MANILA, Philippines - Three days before the New Year, the number of firecracker-related injuries has already exceeded 100, the Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday.

In a report, the DOH’s National Epidemiology Center (NEC) said from 6 a.m. of Dec. 22 to 6 a.m. of Dec. 28, 128 cases were registered.

“This is nine cases lower compared to last year and 11 lower than the five-year (2004-2008) average of daily cumulative cases,” read the report.

Among the 128 cases was a 10-year-old girl who was hit in the right flank by a stray bullet, according to the report.

The NEC said the victims ranged in age from two months to 61 years, and that 58 or 45 percent were children less than 10 years old.

“One hundred three (81 percent) sustained blast injury without amputation, six (five percent) had blast burn injuries with amputations and eighteen (14 percent) had eye injuries,” read the report.

Piccolo accounted for 54 cases, kwitis and luces for six percent each and triangle and five-star, five percent each.

The record showed that 73 or 57 percent of the cases were from Metro Manila.

In Bulacan, pyrotechnics manufacturers and dealers have dared the Philippine National Police to come up with a no-nonsense implementation of the law to prevent accidents and loss of lives related to the use of pyrotechnic products.

Celso Cruz, former president of the Philippine Pyrotechnics Manufacturers and Dealers Association Inc., said the police and industry stakeholders must conduct seminars in provinces nationwide starting January to avoid similar accidents like the ones that happened in General Santos City and Cebu.

“If people are aware of the proper handling and storage of pyrotechnics, similar accidents will be reduced if not avoided,” he said.

Cruz said government agencies like the PNP and the Bureau of Fire Protection usually conduct operations against illegal pyrotechnics dealers and manufacturers when the holiday season is at hand.

“How can they prevent accidents like what happened in General Santos and Cebu if they will only act now,” he said.

“There should be a clear program all year round on proper use and handling of pyrotechnics products and devises.” Cruz said.

Republic Act 7183, the law that regulates the manufacture, sale and distribution of pyrotechnic products, is rendered useless due to lack of implementation.

“That law was meant to enhance the industry as it promotes locally manufactured pyrotechnics, but what we have now are imported products in the market,” he said.

Tony Dinglasan, Bocaue Fireworks Dealers Association chairman, said prices of pyrotechnics products in Bocaue have climbed by at least 10 percent and may continue to rise as New Year approaches.

He added that one of the reasons for the rise of prices was limited supply due to the onslaught of tropical storm “Ondoy” last September that left a large part of Bocaue under water.

The same is true with manufacturers in Baliuag and Sta. Maria where pyrotechnics products ready for delivery last September were damaged by heavy rains and floods brought by Ondoy, he added. - With Dino Balabo