December is 'Firecrackers Injury Prevention Month'
December is 'Firecrackers Injury Prevention Month'
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NewsTranscript
00:00 Every year, during the holiday season and every new year,
00:03 one of the most important tasks of our government is to lower the number of accidents and injuries
00:11 caused by firecrackers here in the Philippines.
00:15 And because today is December, Firecrackers Injury Prevention Month,
00:19 we have with us, Co-Nay Jean, the Department of Health Under Secretary, Dr. Eric Tayag.
00:25 Good morning, Usec Tayag. Welcome to Rise and Shine Philippines.
00:28 This is Prof. P together with Dayan. Good morning.
00:31 Good morning. Merry Christmas to you.
00:36 Merry Christmas to you too, Usec Tayag. Thank you for joining us today.
00:40 Alright, Usec, last year, how many fireworks or firecrackers related injuries were reported?
00:46 And what is our target for this year, Usec?
00:50 Every year, the Ministry of Health monitors 61 Sentinel hospitals or sites that we call,
01:00 that are located in a large part of our country.
01:05 And our monitoring is from December 21 to January 6.
01:11 We started yesterday and in 2023, we reported 307 firework related injuries.
01:21 One of them is stray bullet. So 306 for firecrackers or fireworks.
01:29 Now, in the past year, we only have 189 and we hope that it will go down.
01:41 And the increase in 2023 is because the restrictions on our lockdown were removed.
01:50 That's why we are thankful to you for helping our campaign this year.
01:58 So that our countrymen can avoid firework related injuries.
02:05 20 were cut off.
02:09 What are the most common firecracker injuries reported before and after New Year?
02:18 Although we understand you've given the data earlier, Usec, but what are the injuries that we can usually cater for?
02:26 Before 2023, we had a problem with the PICO law.
02:32 The government prohibited it.
02:35 And in 2023, before New Year, we were surprised that many were reported because of the use of firecrackers.
02:46 This is the improvised PVC that many of them had eye injuries.
02:55 But every year, when the New Year and the New Year itself comes, many are victims of queasiness.
03:04 That's one of the reasons why many were brought to the hospital.
03:13 They are ready to provide first aid or medicine for firework related injuries.
03:23 But in their homes, there are already victims of firework related injuries.
03:33 What are the restrictions on fireworks this year, Dr. Eritrea?
03:41 We have a law that was passed in 1992. But in the law, the Director General of the Police, PNP, may add to the list.
03:57 They updated it.
03:59 The WATOC is prohibited, 5-star, PLA-PLA, PICO-LO, GIANT is prohibited. As long as there are words like GIANT, GOODBYE, it is also a GOODBYE.
04:10 Their rule is that they will not exceed 300 grams of gunpowder.
04:20 If it exceeds, it is already illegal. They reminded us that if there are violations, there is fine and you can still be jailed.
04:33 GIANT, GOODBYE. I saw the GOODBYE in the Philippines before.
04:39 As long as there are words like GOODBYE, GIANT, BIG, it is already prohibited.
04:48 Yousef, you are saying that instead of fireworks, we should use alternative sound.
04:55 What are the alternatives that you can suggest?
05:01 Let's dance.
05:05 That's it.
05:07 One of the alternatives is good music. There are many good music that can be easily danced.
05:15 Aside from that, there are trot songs. Be careful. It might be heard and it might be sold as quality trot songs. There are tambol and noisy music.
05:32 Be careful because if the decibel is high, it can affect our hearing, especially if we listen to noisy music for a long time.
05:49 We miss your dance number.
05:57 I hope that I can go to the studio to dance.
06:04 Next week.
06:06 We will look forward to your dance here at RUSP.
06:10 Promise.
06:13 We look forward to that.
06:16 I just want to add that on December 30, Resolve Day, our Secretary Heather Voss will visit the nearby hospitals to see the preparation of our hospitals.
06:31 Because hospitals should be prepared for those who will have firework-related injuries.
06:39 I hope it will decrease. Thank you very much.
06:42 I agree. But Yusef Tayeg, regarding the fireworks, what are the do's and don'ts when using fireworks?
06:57 First of all, you should not use fireworks. I know that LGU has a community firework display. It's better.
07:14 I remember when former President Duterte issued an executive order banning fireworks. Until recently, Davao City was one of the first to ban fireworks.
07:31 It was an out-of-bounds ban. Now, Secretary Vera Avalos is urging that there should be ordinances to ban fireworks.
07:47 If not, she is also urging for community-based firework displays. If that cannot be done, don't share because many are reporting that they have shared only one.
08:08 At home, be careful because aside from injuries, we should also avoid fireworks.
08:18 As much as possible, kids should not be exposed to fireworks. But many are giving safer options for them, like doses or sparklers. You should teach them so that their clothes or body parts will not get burned.
08:39 If you have a fire, you should go to the nearest emergency room and let the water flow for five minutes so that the firewood will be stuck to the body part.
09:04 Don't leave it. You should give a vaccine against tetanus. You cannot stay at home. You should go to the hospital to see a doctor.
09:20 Even if it's a small injury, if the doctor opens it, there is a pulvera. You should be careful.
09:32 Alright. On that note, thank you for taking the time to be on our show. Again, thank you, Usec, and advance Merry Christmas to you.
09:40 Merry Christmas, Usec.
09:42 (gulping)