BARANGAY officials inthe province were urged by the Pangasinan Provincial Health Office (PHO) to be more active in monitoring the sale of firecrackers in their communities in promoting the ‘Iwas Paputok’ campaign of the government during the holiday season. 

Provincial health officer Dr. Anna Ma. Theresa De Guzman said the barangay officials can make a difference in the campaign to keep communities safe since the police cannot be everywhere to enforce the law. 

She cited the many injuries caused by kwitisand piccolothat are easily and readily sold by sari-sari stores in barangays to children. 

There were 101 cases of firecracker-related injuries from Dec. 20, 2018 to Jan. 7, 2019, only 5.6 percent lower compared to 107 cases recorded from Dec. 20, 2017 to Jan. 7, 2018.

She said most of the victims were between 5 to 14 years old male and the youngest victim was a one-year old and the oldest is a 75 years old. 

She added that designating a common fireworks area in the barangay will help encourage proper handling of firecrackers. 

Meanwhile, she clarified that while the 14 provincial government run hospitals are ready to accommodate firecracker-related injuries, only passive victims will be treated for free. 

“Passive users are those just bystanders and not using firecrackers themselves when they are injured,” she added. (Helen Martin)

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