DOH: Fires a public health hazard

Observing March as Fire Prevention Month, the Department of Health (DOH) aligned with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to help prevent fires and address their effects on public health.

Health Department spokesperson Dr. Eric Tayag explained on Balitanghali on Wednesday that they partnered with BFP as the World Health Organization considers the human cost of fires a "global public health concern."

"Ang gastusin sa sunog ay maari nating mapabilang sa ilang kategorya. Una, ang paghahanda para hindi nga tayo magkaroon ng sunog. Pangalawa, pag-responde sa sunog; at pangatlo, ang epekto nito sa sunog," Tayag explained.

"[May] epekto 'yan sa ating kalusugan. Una, maaring mamatay sa sunog. Pangalawa, yung makaliligtas naman ay mao-ospital," he added.

National health insurance program PhilHealth can give up to P16,000 for burn victims, but the amount may not last for persons with moderate to severe burns, especially since not all hospitals have burn units.

Even if they have burn units, Tayag said, most hospitals cannot treat moderate to severe burns or have limited rooms and supplies.

"Kung minor burns lang naman yun, lahat ng hospital po ay kakayanin po 'yan. Pero 'pag napunta na tayo sa moderate to severe, pwedeng mas mababa sa limang porsyento po ang maaring may kakayahan at marami sa mga ospital na 'yan ay nasa mga urban centers."

The DOH is working to establish or improve burn units in every hospital to allow the treatment of burn victims.

Other than maintaining a healthy supply of blood and the proper use of antibiotics, Tayag said hospitals must strive to improve their referral systems to improve the chances of burn victims recovering.

"Kung minsan, hindi po nare-refer kagad, nagtatagal, kaya hindi natin nasasalba yung buhay nung may mga seryosong pagkasunog."

Firefighers and volunteers must also be protected as they are the most vulnerable to respiratory diseases and burns during emergencies.

"May mga paraan naman na maiiwasan yan. Meron silang mga pagsasanay, pinaguukulan din yan ng gastusin, at meron silang dapat protective equipment na tinatawag," Tayag said.

The health spokesperson also reminded the public to stay wary of diseases that comes with the changing seasons, especially of dengue.

"Ang dengue ay wala nang pinipiling panahon, yan ay all-year round na, kaya tayo'y dapat na maghanda rin. Ang mga lamok ay kaaway po natin," Tayag said.

Five residents were killed in a fire in Makati City on Tuesday night, mere hours before the BFP kicked off Fire Prevention Month.

Another fire in a different barangay in Makati City left 35 families without homes last week while a blaze that reached Fifth Alarm in an establishment next to the Capitol Medical Center in Quezon City forced an evacuation of its patients days ago. — Rie Takumi/BM, GMA News