Two-month-old baby among hundreds injured by firecrackers, DOH says

It's two days to go before New Year’s Eve, and already 165 persons – including a two-month old baby – have already been injured in accidents involving firecrackers. Of the figure, almost half – at 71 – are children aged below ten years old, the Department of Health’s National Epidemiology Center (DOH-NEC) said, citing its latest report covering December 22 to December 29. Out of the 165, 118 actively used firecrackers, the DOH said. Eight of those injured had to have amputations, prompting a health official to advise the public to avoid using any type of firecrackers. “It is very alarming. We advise the public not to use any type of fireworks because there are no safe firecrackers," said Dr. Yolanda Oliveros, director of the DOH's National Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDCP). Piccolo, kwitis (mini-rockets), "five-star" (regular-sized luces (hand-held sparklers), and home-made or altered firecrackers were the top five firecrackers that caused most injuries in 2008, the DOH said. The NCDCP will urge Health Secretary Francisco Duque to recommend to the Philippine National Police the prohibition of the manufacture, sale, and use of piccolo. Piccolo – a firecracker that is lit up by friction like a matchstick – is not on the list of illegal firecrackers under Republic Act 7183, a law that regulates the sale, production, distribution, and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices. At a press conference during a Cabinet meeting in Baguio City, Duque said hospitals are ready to take in victims of fireworks. “Handa na ang ating mga martilyo, barena, pako, at lagare (Our hammers, drills, nails, and saws are ready)...to realign bones and cast them," Duque said. Moreover, the DOH said that only one victim of a stray bullet has been reported so far. Armed Forces of the Philippines public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner said that while the military leadership believes none of their personnel would indiscriminately fire their weapons during the New Year celebrations, anyone who would be caught doing so would lost his or her job. “Soldiers who will be found firing their weapons not in the line of duty will be discharged from the service," said Brawner. According to the DOH's Fireworks Injury Surveillance Report, there were 733 reported injuries from December 21, 2008 to January 5, 2009. Of the cases, 714 were fireworks-related, 17 were due to stray-bullet injuries and two were due to the use and ingestion of watusi, a firecracker also known as “dancing fire." - Johanna Sisante, Andreo Calonzo, RJAB, Jr./GMANews.TV