AS the holiday season approaches, the Region 1 Medical Center (R1MC) is sounding the alarm about the increasing risk of severe injuries from firecrackers during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Dr. Mark Laurence Guille, an orthopedic surgeon at R1MC, highlighted the alarming trend of hand and finger injuries, which can result in permanent disabilities. With firecracker-related accidents traditionally peaking during the festive period, medical experts are bracing for an uptick in cases of severe damage, particularly to the hands.

Dr. Guille shared a chilling account of a 17-year-old boy from Bayambang, Pangasinan, who lost four fingers after mishandling a firecracker that failed to explode properly. The boy required multiple reconstructive surgeries to address the extensive damage.

In response to such injuries, Dr. Guille provided essential first aid instructions:

1. Do not apply milk, sugar, or guava leaves to the wound, as these can worsen the situation.
2. Clean the wound with clean water.
3. Wrap the injured area with a sterile cloth or gauze.
4. Rush the injured person to the hospital immediately for proper medical attention.

Despite these guidelines, Dr. Guille emphasized that prevention is far better than treatment.

Dr. Guille urged parents to discourage their children from using firecrackers and instead suggested attending community fireworks displays or using safer alternatives like metallic noisemakers.

The hospital has declared a Code White, signaling increased readiness to respond to emergencies, especially those caused by firework accidents and other holiday-related incidents.

“We are ready to treat any emergency, but our ultimate goal is prevention,” Dr. Guille added. (Ahikam Pasion)