DOH: Keep watchful eye on children
IWAS PAPUTOK CAMPAIGN
HEALTH Secretary Francisco Duque III has advised parents and caregivers to keep a watchful eye on children this holiday season.
Duque gave the advice at the launch of Iwas Paputok Campaign in Dagupan City on Dec. 5 as he pointed out that children aged 5-9 were among the most vulnerable during last year’s holiday celebration and suffered the most number of injuries.
He said of the total 340 cases recorded from Dec. 21, 2018 to Jan. 5 this year, 338 were fireworks injuries while two were cases of fireworks ingestion; of the 338 injuries due to fireworks, 275 or 81 percent were males and 80 or 24 percent belonged to the 5-9 years age group.
Age range of cases were from 2 to 76 years old and Region 1 reported 52 cases.
He added that 78 percent of cases sustained blast or burn injuries that did not require amputation and the top five body parts injured were the hand, eyes, head and legs and forearm/arm.
Duque enjoined families to participate in the Iwas Paputok Campaign and to help prevent any form of fireworks-related injuries.
Accounting for most of the recorded injuries were kwitis (22 percent), luces (1 percent), piccolo and boga (six percent each) and triangle (five percent), Duque said.
“We are emphasizing the fact that all kinds of fireworks can be harmful. So let us avoid using them,” he stressed.
He added that community fireworks displays, street parties, musical concerts, horns, among others are safer and more festive alternatives to lighting up firecrackers. (PhilStar Wire Service/ECV/Nora Dominguez)
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