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Sunday, January 01, 2006
Health, fire offices on full alert for New Year
By Ernie N. Olson Jr.
BAGUIO CITY -- Health workers were put on full alert Saturday in anticipation for the casualties of the New Year's Eve revelries.
Fire stations, officials and personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) nationwide had also been put on red alert in anticipation of fire incidents that could occur during the New Year's Eve festivities.
The law limits the gunpowder content of legal firecrackers and pyrotechnics to only 2.25 grams or less. Anything beyond such limit makes firecrackers illegal.
In the Cordillera alone, a total of 81 firework-related injuries were reported last year. This was aside from another 70 at the end of 2003, 49 at the end of 2002 and another 68 injuries at the end of 2001.
From December 21, 2004 to January 4, 2005, the majority or 21 of the 81 injuries related to fireworks and pyrotechnics were reported in Baguio.
Of those injured, most or 19 of them were aged from six to 10 years old, 18 were from 11 to 15, 14 from 16 to 20, nine were aged from 21 to 25, seven aged from three to five years old, five aged from 36 to 40, four aged from 26 to 30, two aged from 46 to 50, one aged between 41 to 45, one aged 51 to 55 and one was already 80 years old.
Doctors and medical staff from public hospitals and clinics nationwide have been advised to be on white alert and fully equipped to attend to victims of firecrackers and injuries especially during the height of the New Year's Eve.
DOH records show that 62 firecracker-induced casualties had been noted from December 21-26.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque has warned the public against tetanus, which can be acquired when open wound gets close contact with gunpowder, a gray substance used in making firecrackers.
DOH records said total number of casualties for 2004 reached 585. About 548 were firecracker-induced, 33 by stray bullets.
Twenty nine percent of those injured were merely onlookers and 15 percent were passersby. Twenty-seven among those injured patients required limb amputation.
Senior Superintendent Isagani Nerez, Baguio City Police Office director, said it would be very hard for the government to totally ban the use of these devices "because it has already become part of our culture."
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Fire and the Department of Interior and Local Government have deployed additional fire trucks and ambulances.
BFP Director Rogelio Asignado, Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo T. Reyes said in Metro Manila alone, 17 additional ambulances and 116 fire trucks have been deployed to effectively and swiftly respond to emergency situations and fire incidents.
"We want our BFP officers and personnel to be on their toes before, during and after the New Year's festivities so that they can effectively and immediately respond to fire incidents that may occur during those times," Reyes said.
To ensure the readiness of the Fire bureau, Reyes said all vacation leaves of its personnel had been cancelled during the period, even as the BFP has already coordinated with volunteer fire brigades nationwide for a team up in putting out fires.
The DILG Chief expressed optimism the BFP's readiness will help mitigate the impact of fire incidents that may occur during the festivities.
BFP records show some 109 fire incidents, which destroyed millions of pesos worth of properties occurred in Metro Manila alone since December 1. (With reports from PNA)
(January 1, 2006 issue)
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