After boy playing with firecrackers dies, authorities issue health reminders

After a 10-year-old boy in Marikina City died from eating fishballs after lighting "piccolo" fireworks, health authorities reminded the public about proper hygiene practices after handling fireworks. National Epidemiology Center head Dr. Eric Tayag particularly reminded the public to wash their hands thoroughly before eating or handling food, especially after handling firecrackers. "Maghugas tayo ng kamay, may paputok o wala... Alam natin ang kamay natin maraming mikrobyong dumidikit," Tayag said in an interview on dzBB radio. (We should remember to wash our hands, regardless of whether we have handled firecrackers. We know our hands are vulnerable to microbes.) Ten-year-old Justin Manjares of Marikina City died on Monday afternoon, two days after complaining of stomach pains since Saturday. A news report on Q-11 television Wednesday night said the boy's relatives narrated that he ate fishballs near his house after lighting piccolos. "Bumili siya ng fishball, may pulbura yata ang kamay niya," the boy's brother Jan Michael said. (He bought some fishballs to eat but his hands still had powder from the piccolos he lighted.) However, Tayag said it was possible the death was not due to the boy having lighted piccolos before eating the fishballs. "Mas malamang incidental ang paggamit ng piccolo (It is likely the lighting of piccolos was incidental)," he said in the dzBB interview. DTI pushes intensified drive vs fireworks Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) called for an intensified crackdown on fireworks. DTI Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya said the DTI can only set safety standards for such products and it is the Philippine National Police's job to enforce them. "May nakita kaming watusi nakatago at di masyadong kita agad. Dahil magpapasko, (sa) last minute ilalabas (sa mga) gustong bumili," Maglaya said in an interview on dzXL radio. (In one of our inspections, we saw watusis being hidden by vendors. They cannot be seen in a casual inspection but the vendors can bring them out if a buyer asks for them.) She noted that children are more likely to buy the firecrackers than adults because of the attractive and colorful packaging of the fireworks. Maglaya said some firecrackers are even packaged to resemble popcorn and are sold in sari-sari stores. "Parang box ng popcorn at binili sa sarisari store di nalaman ng magulang," she said. (They look like boxes of popcorn and are sold at sari-sari stores. Children can buy them without their parents knowing.) She also said the DTI is having problems going after the vendors of fireworks because they have no stall numbers and do not issue receipts. "Ang hirap i-trace sino bumili kaya bumili sa reputable stores at alam di tatakbo kung may problema," she said. (It is so hard to trace these firecrackers. We can only advise the public to buy from reputable stores.) Maglaya urged city administrations and police to work together in getting rid of the firecrackers. On the other hand, she called for tougher measures against vendors of these fireworks. "Dapat kumpiskahin dapat may multa ito at dapat may pagkulong din. Ating tatawagan uli ang PNP to make sure higpitan ang pag-ikot," she said. (Aside from confiscation, there should be fines and jail terms for sellers of firecrackers. And we call anew on the PNP to intensify its drive against illegal firecrackers.) – VVP, GMANews.TV