Shooting down firecrackers

IT’S frustrating to report at the beginning of each year about injuries arising from firecracker explosions during the New Year’s Eve celebration. Welcoming a New Year, just as in any celebration, is supposed to be an event for merriment, not an occasion for tragedy. But so many people just keep falling for the same error and failing to recognize the dangers of powerful firecrackers.

This year was once again particularly appalling, with the number of injuries at 158, mostly involving children. This total is 35 percent higher than the previous year’s 117. One death, that of 17-year old boy from Rosales, resulted from the indiscriminate firing of a gun. The young life of Francisco Corpuz was pointlessly ended just as he was standing outside his home, enjoying the New Year revelry with his family. What could be a more tragic way of starting a new year.

The provincial health office and other local health offices have not been remiss in their responsibility of reminding the public to avoid firecrackers, but their campaigns clearly fall on many deaf ears.

To stop the needless loss of limbs and sight of kids and machos, what is needed is local legislation banning the production and sale of the dangerous and huge firecrackers that are bigger than the old one-inch types. Inspection procedures for firecrackers producers should also be tightened to ensure that the products that end up in the hands of the public are safe.

The city of Davao has proven that zero firecracker victims during the New Year revelry is possible. Mayor Sara “Inday” Duterte, carrying on the policy initiated by her father, former Mayor now Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, has banned the lighting of firecrackers and firing of guns of any kind in the city. The rule is strictly implemented and all violators are jailed.

Firecrackers are a deeply rooted tradition for celebrating the New Year. Over the years, however, developments in firecracker production have made these more and more dangerous. It is time that we begin reassessing the risks over the short-term enjoyment of lighting something up and watching it explode.

Our local governments must see the imposition of firecracker restrictions as a way of protecting the public and not curtailing its freedom to have some superficial, precarious fun.

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