Celebrating New Year and Christmas holidays need not be hazardous to health and dangerous to merrymakers.
To prevent firecracker-related injuries, the Provincial Health Office (PHO) is urging the local government units in Aklan to organize community fireworks display.
Provincial Health Officer I Dr. Cornelio Cuachon, Jr. said the Department of Health (DoH) and the municipal health offices also encouraged the LGUs to designate areas in the barangays for the community fireworks display.
This year’s anti-firecracker campaign theme “Iwas Paputok Fireworks Display ang Patok! Makiisa Fireworks Display sa inyong lugar” was adopted by DoH to remind the public for a safe and injury-free celebration of Christmas and New Year festivities.
Cuachon said public, private and municipal district hospitals in Aklan will be placed also under “Code White Alert” to ensure the readiness of facilities, personnel and medical services especially during the holiday celebrations.
Last year, the PHO-Aklan recorded 10 cases of fireworks-related injuries in the province of Aklan. Two years ago, the health office registered less than 20 cases.
Instead of firecrackers, the DoH also urged the children and parents to use alternative merry-making and noise-making instruments such as torotot, loud music or car horns.
Cuachon said wounds due to firecrackers should be washed by clean water and soap and the patient immediately brought to a nearest hospital or health centers for treatment.
DoH also reminded the public to stay indoors to avoid inhaling smoke from firecrackers accumulated during the New Year. Exposure to smoke and firecracker particles are hazardous to human health especially for asthmatic people.
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL
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