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Thursday, December 23, 2004
Cops suggest firecracker zones to limit danger during revelry
The Police Regional Office 7 (PRO) 7 has called on local government units (LGUs) to set up their own firecracker or pyrotechnic zones to minimize accidents during Christmas and New Year’s Day celebrations.
A memorandum issued by PRO 7 Chief Rolando Garcia also calls on LGUs to designate a safety officer with standby support from an ambulance, fire trucks, police, barangay tanods and rescue volunteers.
The Department of Health (DOH) 7, with the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) and the PRO 7 yesterday launched the “Iwas Paputok” campaign for this season’s coordinated monitoring on firecracker-related incidents.
The DOH 7—using this year’s theme “Meron ba kayong mga kamay? Huwag kang magpaputok ngayong Bagong Taon”—is disseminating posters with a gory picture of a man’s hand blasted by a firecracker.
Worst in 1997
A consolidated report of firecracker-related injuries in Cebu Province from 1995 to 2003 showed that so far, 1997 saw the highest number of incidents at 200, while 2000 had the lowest at 84 cases.
In 2002, there were 133 firecracker-related incidents but in 2003, the DOH through the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (Resu) registered 163 victims.
Of the number, 157 were hurt by firecrackers, while six were injured by stray bullets.
In the entire region last year, 30 fires were reported, 1,190 people were injured and 20 persons were killed due to firecrackers.
Garcia’s memorandum stated that firecracker zones must be far from power lines and should be properly marked.
It said age restrictions should be for those who want to handle firecrackers.
Garcia urged LGUs to pass a local ordinance to support the implementation of the memorandum.
Safe option
He deems the establishment of firecracker zones as a “safer option” considering many people like to use firecrackers to celebrate New Year’s Day.
He also ordered provincial police directors to intensify the monitoring and seizure of illegally made explosives, and to arrest those involved in the manufacture and sale of such devices.
Resu Chief Junjie Zuasula, during the launching of the “Iwas Paputok” campaign yesterday, said most of the firecracker-related accidents in the past occurred in urban areas.
In the province, Cebu City recorded the highest number of cases at 80 or 49.10 percent of the total number of injuries last year. Lapu-Lapu City ranked second with 29 cases, Talisay had 19 and Mandaue, 15.
The most number of cases recorded in the towns had been four.
Resu reported that most injuries were caused by whistle bombs, kwitis, triangles and collected firecracker powder.
Zuasula said the DOH intended the campaign poster to appear gory to instill into the minds of the public the danger of firecrackers.
The Rotary Club of Cebu-Fuente volunteered to print the posters and help in the dissemination.
Supt. Carmelo Valmoria, chief of the Regional Police Community Relations, said the regional police office has directed all the provincial and city directors, special units commanders and the Regional Mobile Group on the proper measures to be implemented during the celebrations.
Dr. Emmanuel Gines of the VSMMC emergency room section and Dr. Gloria Duterte of CCMC said they have laid out a plan to handle firecracker-related injuries. (GC/JST)
(December 23, 2004 issue)
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