DOH Reminds Firecracker-related Injury Victims to Get Anti-tetanus Shots to Avoid Infection

Manila (PNA) — The Department of Health (DOH) reiterated on Friday its call on the public not to disregard and leave untreated with anti-tetanus toxoid the small wounds or injuries caused by firecracker blasts during the New Year celebrations.

According to DOH spokesperson Dr. Lyndon Lee-Suy, those who suffered injury, no matter how small it was, should not hesitate to seek medical treatment in the hospitals so that their wounds will be treated properly to avoid severe tetanus infections that can result to death.

Dr. Lee-Suy noted that firecracker components are usually full of dirt as the ingredients are mixture of different chemical substances and even animal wastes that can produce light, color, and loud bang when heated.

Lee-Suy said that since firecrackers are dirty, the open wounds caused by firecracker blasts need thorough cleansing and given tetanus toxoid to ensure that the dirt and bacteria will not further create complications on the open wounds.

He added that family members of those injured by firecrackers should encourage or advise the wounded that it is the safest option to go to the nearest hospital instead of setting aside that option before it becomes too late.

Meanwhile, with the new year revelry over and the DOH had recorded a total of 351 injured as of 6 a.m. of Jan. 1, 2015 — which was lower compared with the same period last year — the DOH spokesperson said that the figure was not yet final as records from some hospitals where some patients were admitted were still undergoing further verifications.

He said that tallying and monitoring of the number of the injured victims will continue until Jan. 5 before they can come out with an official count of total injuries.

He added that they are expecting other wounded victims by firecrackers to come out and seek treatment at the sentinel hospitals which the DOH has been monitoring since Dec. 21 through the National Epidemiology Center (NEC).

The said sentinel hospitals consist of 50 hospitals, both public and private, thath are spread in the different regions of the country where cases of firecracker injuries in the past five years were recorded and being compared by NEC.

The NEC, headed by DOH Director IV Enrique A. Tayag, evaluates if there is increase or decrease in terms of the injuries, types and causes, numbers and other related details like profile of cases such as age and if the victim is active or passive user. (PNA) SCS/LSJ