Anti-firecracker injury campaign intensified in Bataan
BALANGA CITY, Bataan, Dec. 30 (PNA) — The Bataan Provincial Health Office is intensifying its anti-firecracker injury campaign to lessen the risk of injuries brought about by firecrackers in the province.
With this year’s theme is “Oplan Iwas Paputok Fireworks Display ang Patok,” the campaign portrays the harms and outcomes of firecracker through visual posters and materials showing injuries brought about by firecrackers.
“The campaign also encourages all to participate in community fireworks display and advises the general public to be vigilant and wary on the harms of firecrackers,” Michael Angelo Baluyot of the Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (PESU), said.
Baluyot said the provincial government of Bataan has intensified its campaign due to an increase on the number of firecracker-related injury cases in the whole province last Christmas and New Year celebrations.
From December 21, 2015 to January 5, 2016, he said a total of 74 firecracker related injuries were noted.
“This number is 10 percent higher compared to the same period the previous year with 67 cases,” Baluyot said.
He also said the area with the most number of cases is Mariveles with 17 cases (23%), followed by Limay with 10 cases (14%), Balanga City and Orani with eight cases (11%), Dinalupihan with seven cases (9%), Samal with six cases (8%) Bagac, Hermosa and; Morong with four cases (5%), Orion with three cases (4%) Abucay with two cases (3%) and Pilar with one case (1%), respectively.
Majority of the victims suffered from blast/burn injuries. However, no case of amputation was documented, he added.
He also said that the most common firecracker used was Piccolo (67%) followed by Lusis (10%).
“With the upsurge of the cases the provincial government of Bataan through the Bataan Provincial health Office, is doubling efforts to encourage the residents not to use firecrackers as there are some safety ways to celebrate New Year,” Baluyot added. (PNA)
LAP/ZST/EBE
