DOH starts 16-day anti-firecrackers campaign, urges Pinoys to say no to paputok

The Department of Health and select public and private hospitals went on alert on Sunday, the first day of the DOH's annual 16-day anti-firecracker campaign.

From December 21 until January 5, the department's central office, regional offices and DOH-retained hospitals and select private health facilities nationwide are placed on “Code White Alert,” which puts all personnel of participating hospitals on standby for deployment and augmentation as the need arises.

The DOH said in a statement that its annual anti-firecracker campaign is “one of [its] biggest and most extensive advocacies,” involving thousands of health personnel and volunteers across the Philippines “working and cooperating in an effort to save lives and limbs unnecessarily and mindlessly lost due to firecracker-related injuries.”

Warning

The DOH encouraged the public to enjoy the holiday season, but urged Filipinos to go with safer options to celebrate with.

“Let us use safe merry-making instruments and alternative noise-makers such as torotot, car horns, or by playing loud music,” the DOH said. “Mahalaga ang buhay. Huwag hayaang masayang ito dahil lamang sa paputok.”

The DOH appealed to adults to exercise vigilance as well, advising them that if they see children playing with firecrackers, they should “act decisively and wisely” and “immediately seize” the firecrackers from children and put them away where they cannot get them.

“Repeatedly tell them not to buy firecrackers. Educate them on the consequences of firecracker injuries,” the DOH said.

The department added that anyone playing with firecrackers is exposed to the risk of severe injury and even death.

“The fun from lighting up firecrackers is as fleeting as the sparks of the firecrackers. Serious injuries and amputation caused by firecracker explosions have life-changing consequences. Exploding or lighting up firecrackers is an extreme gamble on one’s future,” it said.

“Imagine the rest of a child’s life without hands, arms, legs, or injured body parts after losing them to fireworks. Not only is self-esteem drastically diminished, productivity at school and work will also be greatly affected,” it added.

“Soon after the bloodstains have dried up, the wounds due to firecracker injuries heal slowly. But the most painful realization that a child has lost a finger or an eye and cannot function normally sets in.”

What to do

The DOH advised that wounds caused by firecracker explosions must be immediately washed with clean running water for several minutes, until all visible dirt and gunpowder residue has been removed.

The injured person must then be rushed to the nearest medical facility.

The DOH also said that people injured by firecrackers must strictly follow the advice of attending health personnel on the use of antibiotics and anti-tetanus medication. — BM, GMA News