A cure to end firecracker injuries

Last Friday, the Department of Health (DOH) disclosed there have been a total of 73 firecracker-related incidents reported to them by hospitals from all over the country that treated these emergencies. Barely 24 hours later, this number rose to 113 incidents, or almost double as reported by the DOH-National Epidemiology Center.

Saturday’s tally even included one case involving accidental swallowing of a seemingly harmless pyrotechnic device. A five-year-old boy from San Mateo, Rizal mistook a piece of “luces” (sparkler) for candy. The little boy was taken to hospital for poisoning treatment. Barring any complications, the boy hopefully would be discharged by this time.

While it is puzzling how this boy could ingest the sparkler and how he got hold of it, the incident was no longer a surprise. The DOH has, in fact, recorded similar incidents in previous years. The biggest number of incidents involved “piccolo,” apparently the most popular type of pyrotechnic among children. These pyrotechnics look like small, elongated sticks in colorful wrapper that young children mistake them for candy – with potentially fatal results.

And the DOH also recorded cases the previous years of accidental swallowing by children of “watusi” (dancing firecracker). These tiny pyrotechnic devices like piccolo, watusi and luces contain yellow phosphorous, the same toxic substance found in the equally lethal firecrackers available.

They may be tiny, colorful, and cheap firecrackers but they are the most dangerous ones, especially for young children who do not know any better.

  The piccolo is just one of the firecrackers supposedly banned under existing law, Republic Act 7183. This law spelled out what firecrackers are regulated and what are banned as a guide of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the enforcement of RA 7183.

The PNP has repeatedly warned the public against using at least seven illegal firecrackers as its explosive content is beyond what the law provides. These include piccolo, Pop Pop, Goodbye Philippines or Crying Bading, Yolanda or Goodbye Napoles, Watusi, pla-pla and giant kuwitis.

These firecrackers, except for watusi, have explosive content of over 0.2 grams, the limit set under RA 7183, also as guide for the local firecracker-making industry. Among the legitimate firecrackers that can be used during the New Year revelry are the Baby Rocket, Bawang, El Diablo, Judas Belt, Paper Caps, Pulling of strings, Sky Rocket or kwitis and the small “trianggulo.” Pyrotechnic devices that can be also used include Butterfly, Fountain, Jumbo Regular, Luces, Mabuhay, Roman Candle, Sparklers, Trompillo, Whistle devices and Pailaw.

According to the PNP Firearms and Explosive Office (FEO), they have issued license to only 68 manufacturers, 285 dealers, and 2,551 retailers of firecrackers to date.

But the manufacture and sale of these dangerous firecrackers usually proliferate, especially during the Christmas season all the way to New Year revelry as part of the noise-making celebration.

Over the weekend, Valenzuela City Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian issued a press statement asking the PNP to intensify its campaign against illegal trading of firecrackers. Gatchalian asked the PNP to conduct an honest-to-goodness crackdown on known manufacturers and sellers of firecrackers that do not meet the standards and requirements of RA 7183 which they in Congress had approved into law.

Gatchalian reiterated his earlier proposed legislation under House Bill 4434 that seeks to amend certain provisions in RA 7183. In particular, Gatchalian proposed to require fireworks dealers to submit the names and addresses of their affiliates to the PNP-FEO upon securing business permit.

But since the 16th Congress has gone on Christmas recess since December 19 and won’t resume session until January 19, Gatchalian’s press statement remains as it is – a press statement.

In the same statement, Gatchalian cited a report of DOH that supposedly confirmed a total of 1,018 firework-related injuries in the first quarter of 2014. He noted there was nine percent spike of the incidents compared to last year. He added that 25 percent, or a total of 250 injuries were incurred by children less than 10 years old and mostly caused by the banned piccolo.

Gatchalian’s concern would likely find support from the DOH acting Secretary Janet Garin who happens to be his erstwhile colleague in the previous Congress. Garin used to represent the first district of Iloilo. President Aquino appointed Garin, his former Liberal Party (LP) ally in Congress, to head the DOH in acting capacity since October this year.

Garin took over from former Secretary Enrique Ona who initially was forced to go on official leave for one month. President Aquino later admitted Ona went on leave purportedly to enable the secretary to come up with plausible explanation to the questioned DOH procurement of anti-pneumonia vaccines last year. After an extended official leave, Ona finally submitted his irrevocable resignation to President Aquino last week and was accepted.

To her credit, Garin has taken a tough stand against firecrackers. In radio interviews last week. Garin minced no words in assailing the continued proliferation of these illegal pyrotechnic products. She blamed them for the rising incidents of firecracker-related cases.

“Kung walang nagbebenta (illegal firecrackers) wala namang mapuputukan. Gusto po naming kumita sila (fireworks industry) pero mas obligasyon ng DOH na pangalagaan yung buhay at kalusugan ng bawat Pilipino,” she pointed out.

On her initiatives, the DOH partnered with various government agencies as well as private sector companies like Smart Telecom to spread the message on the life-threatening consequences of playing with firecrackers. Garin urged the public to share the ‘Iwas Paputok’ video now posted on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Anticipating the worse but hoping for the best, the DOH acting secretary gave assurance that all injured by firecrackers during the New Year festivities can be treated. “But a damaged future has no cure,” Garin warned.

Davao City claimed zero cracker-related incidents because Mayor Rodrigo Duterte imposed a total ban on firecrackers.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, as the popular saying goes. So don’t use firecrackers to celebrate the New Year!