DOH wants ban on firecrackers after noting four revelry-related deaths

The Department of Health will espouse a total ban on firecrackers and encourage public fireworks displays instead, after the number of injuries in this year’s New Year revelry nearly matched those of last year’s. National Epidemiology Center head Dr. Enrique Tayag on Friday said this as he noted the final tally of revelry-related injuries for this year stood at 1,021 – only one less than last year’s 1,022. “DOH espouses TOTAL ban on Individual use of firecrackers Encourages public display instead,” he said on his Twitter account. The DOH had also noted four revelry-related deaths in this year’s revelry. But it also pointed out public fireworks displays hosted by local governments and members of the private sector had saved more individuals from injuries. It said it will share these figures with stakeholders to come up with recommendations for next year. "This may include total ban on individual use, pursuing instead public fireworks displays supervised by professionals hired by local governments or private sector, which is a safer way to enjoy merriment during the holidays," it said. Last Sunday, DOH Secretary Enrique Ona voiced concerns on the use of even legal firecrackers as he noted the injuries from legal fireworks accounted for half of revelry-related injuries at the time. Among the “legal” fireworks that caused several injuries were the kwitis and fountain. “Fifty percent of (fireworks-related) injuries were due to so-called legal firecrackers,” Ona said last Sunday. A news release from the DOH added that the 1,021 injuries this year were one case (0.1 percent) less than in the same period last year. But this year’s figures were 27 cases (three percent) higher than the yearly average in the previous five years from 2006 to 2010. Of the 1,021 injuries this year, 987 (97 percent) were fireworks-related, 29 (3 percent) were due to stray bullets and 5 (0.5 percent) were cases of firework ingestion. Four died this year, three from fireworks-related injuries and one from stray bullet. Among those injured by fireworks, 498 (50 percent) were less than 15 years and 590 (60 percent) were below 20 years of age. Also, 446 (53 percent) were active users and the rest were bystanders. Most of the injuries occurred in Metro Manila (590 cases or 60 percent). The DOH also said 446 (45 percent) of injuries were due to illegal fireworks, of which piccolo caused 244 (55 percent) of the injuries. The parts of the body most often injured were hands/fingers 446 (45 percent). Most of the injuries were burns with 793 (80 percent), amputations with 58 (6 percent) and eye injuries with 131 (13 percent). Good sign But on Friday, Ona said they are taking the results of this year's campaign against firecracker use – which veered from scare tactics and promoted holiday safety with positive messages – as a "good sign." “We are taking the results of this year’s campaign as a good sign of the effectivity of our positive campaigning. Next year, we are determined to pursue a better and more aggressive strategy,” he said. Meanwhile, the DOH said the increase in the number of cases after January 1, 2012 was due to delayed consultations, despite the DOH’s appeal to injured revelers to visit hospitals for their tetanus vaccination. It also noted the proportion of children (less than 10 years old) injured dropped to 28 percent this year from last year's 34 percent. — LBG/HS, GMA News