MANILA -- Citing that the youngest case of fireworks-related injuries (FWRIs) is a two-year-old, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III urged parents and guardians on Monday to look after their children, who might be playing with fireworks.
"Nanawagan tayo sa mga magulang na saliksikin ninyo ang mga kwarto, ang mga drawers, kung saan maaring ikubli ng inyong mga anak ang mga paputok. Kunin ninyo ang mga ito, ilagay sa plastik na may tubig at ibaon sa lupa para makasiguro tayong ligtas ang ating pamilya (We're calling on the parents to search through [their children's] rooms, drawers, other places, where your children might keep fireworks. Gather them, place them in a plastic with water and bury them in the ground to ensure your families are safe)," he said during a hospital visit at Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center.
Instead of lighting firecrackers, Duque explained that it is best to celebrate the New Year with noises produced by banging cans, pots, and hornpipes or trumpets, as it is safer.
"Ingat lamang po dahil meron may mga torotot na mataas ang lead content. Siguraduhin po natin na malayo tayo sa kapahamakan, kung hindi ang sasalubong sa atin ay ang lagare, barena, gunting, at mga alambre (Be careful as there are hornpipes or trumpets with high lead content. Make sure we are far from danger or else saw, drill, scissors, and wires will welcome us)," he added.
Duque said the current FWRI statistics is 50 percent less than the figures in the same period last year and 75 percent lower than the five-year average.
He added that this could be attributed to the establishment of Executive Order No. 28, which mandates that the use of firecrackers shall be confined to community fireworks display areas to minimize the risk of injuries and casualties.
"Nakatulong din sa pagbaba ng mga kaso ng paputok ang pagpapakita ng mga kagimbal-gimbal na larawan ng mga naputukan, kasi alam mo naman ang mga Pilipino ay takutin mo para sumunod (The dissemination of photos of fireworks victims also helped in the downtrend of the FWRIs. You know you need to scare Filipinos so they would obey)," he said.
Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center official Emmanuel Montana reported that their hospital has handled only four minor FWRIs since Dec. 21.
"Dalawa sa kanila ay mga batang tinapunan lamang ng paputok, isa nakasakay sa tricycle at tinapunan siya ng paputok, iyong isa naman ay ipinahawak sa kanya ang Piccolo at sumabog ito sa kanya (Two of the cases are young children, one child was inside a tricycle when a firecracker was thrown at him, the other child was asked to hold a lighted Piccolo, which exploded on him)," he said.
Montana reminded the public that the hands and fingers are important, as they are used for work.
"They can disable and kill you. Most of the injured are children who are eight, 12, and 16 years old, who are our future. We remind parents and guardians to look after them," he added.
Montana said their current FWRI statistics is the lowest they ever logged and they are looking forward to fewer cases hours before 2019. (PNA)
