Hospitals remind public: Seek medical treatment for firecracker injuries

One day before New Year's eve, hospitals reminded the public to err on the side of caution in handling firecracker-related injuries.

The East Avenue Medical Center warned that victims could die from tetanus infection if wounds and burns from firecrackers remain untreated, according to Sandra Aguinaldo's report in 24 Oras.

Some doctors also suggested possible first aid responses for firecracker mishaps.

"Kung masama ang tama sa daliri ilagay agad sa yelo at pumunta sa ospital. Puwede pa mabalik ang darili mo," said Dr. Bernard Joseph Adajar of Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center.

JRRMMC will have 55 doctors from the orthopedic and surgery departments on duty for 24 hours on Tuesday to attend to emergencies.

The number of firecracker victims the hospital treated went down the last five years, from 115 in 2014 to 37 last year. However, the Department of Health listed 54 victims of firecrackers from 6 a.m. of December 21 to 6 a.m. on Monday, according to reports from 61 sentinel hospitals.

The Bureau of Fire Protection and local government of Muntinlupa City recommended the use of horns to make noise and ring in the new year instead of firecrackers. — Marisse Panaligan/BM, GMA News