Hospitals ready to treat New Year firecracker-related injuries –Duque

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Friday assured the public that hospitals were prepared to treat patients with New Year’s Eve firecracker-related injuries.

Duque made rounds at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center in Manila to ensure the preparedness of the medical staff and emergency rooms to take patients with firecracker-related injuries amid the COVID-19 threat.

“Handang handa na po ang ating mga hospitals. Kaya nga po bago mag-New Year’s Eve celebration umiikot tayo sa lahat ng mga hospital para siguraduhin ang kanilang kahandaan sa kasangkapan, sa gamot, anti-tetanus, sa lahat po ng first aid ng mga measures at interventions,” he said in a press briefing.

(Our hospitals are ready. That is why before the New Year’s Eve celebration we made rounds to all the hospitals to make sure they are ready with equipment, medicine, anti-tetanus, all first aid measures and interventions.)

“Wala po tayong kaduda-duda na kakayanin nila ang mga kasong ito kung sakaling tumaas man ito yun ay pinaghahandaan nila ang possibleng maraming disgrasya, better expect the worst and prepared for it,” he added.

(We have no doubt that they will be able to handle these cases in case it escalates, they are preparing for the possible increase in firework-related injuries, better expect the worst, and be prepared for it.)

The Health Secretary also advised the public to take precautionary measures and keep safe to avoid firecracker injuries during the New Year celebration.

Meanwhile, the Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center (GABMMC) was ready to treat firecracker-related injuries.

GABMMC chief Dr. Ted Martin said they prepared their operating room and equipment before Christmas.

According to the Department of Health (DOH), a total of 30 fireworks-related injuries were reported as of Friday.

It noted that this was 76% higher compared to 2020 with 17 cases and 66% lower than the five-year average with 89 cases during the same time period. — DVM, GMA News