Firecracker injuries spike in last 24 hours of 2009, up 22%

The last 24 hours of 2009 saw a sharp rise in revelry-related injuries, zooming to 210 as of Thursday morning - a 22% increase over the same period last year. National Epidemiology Center head Dr. Eric Tayag said these included 207 firecracker injuries, two stray bullet cases, and one watusi ingestion case. “Itong report ngayong taon, 210 lahat; 207 ang sa fireworks, may dalawa na tayong stray bullet at may isang lumulon ng watusi (As of Thursday morning, we have recorded 210 injuries. Of these, 207 stemmed from fireworks, two from stray bullets, and one from swallowing watusi)," Tayag said in an interview on dzBB radio. “Tataas pa yan sa bisperas at mamayang madaling araw (We expect the figures to go up tonight and before dawn of Friday)," he added in an interview on dwIZ radio. He said that of the 207 firecracker-related injuries, more than half or 121 stemmed from the use of the piccolo. At least 122 of the 207 firecracker-related injuries were from Metro Manila, and 17 from Ilocos, he added. Tayag said the piccolo had been on top of the Health Department’s “most wanted" list of firecrackers because of its potential to cause injury, especially to children. “Kaya umaapela na kami sa kapulisan na itong piccolong ito ipagbawal na kaagad (We ask police to crack down on these piccolos immediately)," he said. Tayag said they do not want a repeat of last year, where there were more than 700 firecracker-related injuries. “Ngayon 207 na, sana hindi abutin ganoong kataas (We now have 207 such injuries. We hope it does not reach last year’s figures)," he said. Safety tips Tayag advised parents to douse water on the area in front of their homes by late Thursday night to make sure unexploded firecrackers do not harm their children. He cited past cases where children woke up early on New Year’s Day to pick up unexploded firecrackers so they can greet the New Year with a bang. "Douse the front of your houses with water so the firecrackers will not explode. Children usually wake up early to look for unexploded firecrackers and end up in the hospital because the fireworks will suddenly explode," he said on dwIZ radio. Duque to inspect hospitals Tayag said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III was to lead an inspection of government hospitals starting 4 p.m., to see the extent of preparations for the New Year. Government hospitals are on Code White alert, they should have a manpower pool of general surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, anesthesiologists, internists, operating room nurses, ophthalmologists, and otorhinolaryngologists. Emergency service personnel, nursing personnel, and administrative personnel residing at the hospital dormitory shall be placed on "on call" status for immediate mobilization. Also, emergency medicines, especially for trauma cases, medicines and supplies in the operating rooms, and other needs such as x-ray plates, laboratory requirements, etc. should be made available. - LBG, GMANews.TV