Total ban on firecrackers pushed

MANILA, Philippines - With 860 revelers injured from firecrackers in the recent New Year’s Eve revelry, the Department of Health (DOH) will push for a total ban on firecrackers and partial ban on fireworks.

In a press briefing, acting Health Secretary Janette Garin said this was the consensus reached in a series of meetings of the DOH with officials of the Philippine National Police, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

“We will recommend a total ban on firecrackers all over the country and partial ban on fireworks. The fireworks display will have to be handled only by pyrotechnicians in a public area,” she noted.

Asked about the impact of a total ban on the livelihood of those working in the firecracker industry, Garin maintained that manufacturers could focus on fireworks.

“So as not to displace the industry, we also encourage the local government units to support public fireworks display together with the private sector,” she added.

The DOH concluded yesterday its surveillance on fireworks-related injuries, covering 50 sentinel hospitals nationwide from Dec. 21, 2014 to Jan. 5.

Garin reported that there were 840 firecracker-related injuries, seven cases of fireworks ingestion and 13 stray bullet injuries, totaling 860 cases. This is 16 percent lower than the 1,018 cases documented during the same period last year.

Records showed that of the 860 injuries, seven are fireworks ingestion while 51 resulted in amputation. There are 146 eye injuries.

Half of the injuries were caused by illegal firecrackers, with piccolo accounting for most cases at 272, followed by kwitis at 125. A total of 503 or 60 percent were “active” users of pyrotechnics.

PCSO general manager Ferdinand Rojas said the agency has been helping defray the medical expenses of the victims of firecrackers and stray bullet but it would be better if people will stop using firecrackers.

“The medical assistance that we provide them is better given to those in need of chemotherapy drugs and dialysis. Firecracker injuries can be prevented,” Rojas added.

For PhilHealth vice president for Quality Assurance Group Francisco Soria, the ban is necessary as reimbursements for firecracker injuries are putting a dent on health insurance funds. – With Ramon Lazaro