DOH: Stay Away From Firecrackers

The Department of Health reminds the general public to avoid using firecrackers to greet the New Year, but some people never really learn.

In December 21 to 27 alone, over 173 cases of firecracker-related injuries have been reported by the DOH, over half of which are children. The main culprits are the small but terrible "piccolo" (a small firecracker named after a kind of flute), "kwitis" (a rocket-type firecracker), whistle bomb, triangles, five-star, and the makeshift PVC cannon called "boga". Sadly, some of the victims are just innocent bystanders.

There are also 5 reported cases of firecracker ingestion, one of which lead to death, and 6 cases of stray bullet injuries.

Hospitals all over the country are now on code white in anticipation of the rush of victims injured by firecrackers. Health Secretary Enrique Ona projected that the total number of victims will reach 900 to 1,000 by New Years Day.

Firecraker-related Fire Incidents

There are also reported firecracker-related fire incidents, the latest of which is in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay. Rows and rows of firecracker stores were set ablaze when a "kwitis" tested fell on a firecracker store. There were no reported casualties, however there were motorcycles in the vicinity that were damaged by the fire.

Hazardous To Health and Environment

Aside from the injuries and loss of properties due to fires, the DOH reiterates the ill effects of firecracker smokes and fumes to our bodies. The sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxide contained in firecracker fumes can cause respiratory diseases because of the heavy pollution every New Year's Day.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources also cites the dangers of firecracker fumes in our environment. One test conducted last year by the Air Quality Management Office yielded a Total Suspended Particulates (TSP) of 369µg/m3 on December 28, 2009 to 396µg/m3 on January 4, 2010. And the pollution level even reaches up to 600µg//m3 on the peak hours of New Year revelry. According to the World Health Organization, this figure falls on the Acutely Unhealthy level of pollution.

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje also noted that ingredients in firecrackers contain sulfur, charcoal, and other materials that formed greenhouse gases when these reacted with oxidants in the air.

Some non-government organizations are now pushing for the total ban of firecrackers to save the environment from further destruction. Rene Pineda, Chairman of the Partnership for Clean Air, said that it is now time to forget this culture of firecrackers and begin to be more responsible and caring to the environment for the sake of life and survival. "There are lots of ways (to revel), New Year is not about firecrackers. There are lots of religious, spiritual, emotional and social meaning of New Year," he added.

So instead of the traditional firecrackers, the DOH, again and again, pushes for a safer way to revel on New Year's Day through the use of makeshift paper horns, clanging of pots and pans, or using stereo sounds.