HOSPITALS in Cagayan de Oro are prepared to respond and treat firecracker-related injuries and other health problems during the holidays, Acting City Health Officer Dr. Lorraine Nery said Tuesday, December 22.
Nery assured that the JR Borja General Hospital, Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) and the private hospitals in the city are generally prepared to treat patients, particularly those who experience high blood pressure and high sugar levels.
Apart from firecracker-related injuries, Nery said there is an increase of patients involved in vehicular incidents during the holidays due to drunk driving.
"Dili gyud malikayan kanang mga intake of alcohol, so daghang mga hubog sa dalan ug dili malikayan nga naay mga vehicular accidents," Nery said.
"Year in and year out, nakita nato and trend nga mosaka gyud ang mga cases of this," she added.
Meanwhile, there will be no more malls or establishment-sponsored fireworks displays and exhibitions in this year's celebration of Christmas in Cagayan de Oro.
According to City Information Officer Maricel Casiño-Rivera, there are no designated areas for the selling of firecrackers and fireworks in barangays, adding that they have already identified groups who are authorized to sell pyrotechnics in Paseo del Rio, Cagayan de Oro City, and minimum public health protocols are still to be observed.
Online sellers are strictly prohibited from selling firecrackers, fireworks, and other pyrotechnic devices. Likewise, minors are not allowed to sell or buy firecrackers.
Sellers are also not allowed to sell the following firecrackers: Judas belt, super lolo, atomic triangle, piccolo, large bawang, bosa, Goodbye Philippines, Bin Laden, mother rocket, lolo thunder, coke in can, atomic bomb, pla-pla, giant whistle bomb, kabasi, and watusi.