DOH: Celebrate New Year Safely

(PIA) — The Department of Health (DOH) in Western Visayas urged the public to be responsible citizens by avoiding firecrackers and patronize safe forms of merrymaking to celebrate the New Year.

Dr. May Ann Sta. Lucia, DOH-6 Medical Officer III, said that alternative noisemakers such as “turotot” and musical instruments can be used instead of firecrackers.

The Iwas-Paputok campaign led by the DOH seeks to educate people, especially the youth and children, on likely serious injuries that may result due to use of firecrackers.

The health department is also monitoring firecracker-related injuries through its Aksyon Paputok Injury Reduction (APIR) surveillance from December 21 this year to January 5 next year.

As of Dec. 25, 2014, DOH reported five victims of firecracker-related injuries in Western Visayas.

The cases were from the designated sentinel hospitals in Region 6: Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in Iloilo City and Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.

In a media release, the DOH tallied a total of 113 victims of firecracker-related injuries all over the country, as of Dec. 27, 2014.

The DOH is working closely with the Philippine National Police to monitor closely on makers and dealers of illegal firecrackers.

The local government units are also urged to ask the public to supervise the children.

The firecracker piccolo, though prohibited, has accounted for 75 of the victims. (JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)