In a proactive move to ensure a safer holiday season, the Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development kicked off its ‘Iwas Paputok’ campaign in Iloilo City on November 8, 2024. The initiative, part of the broader ‘Ligtas Christmas’ advocacy, aims to reduce the risks associated with fireworks during festive celebrations.
Recent statistics from the DOH indicate a worrying trend in firecracker-related incidents in the region, with numbers escalating from 42 cases in 2020 to 294 cases, including one fatality, in 2023. Ana Margarette Navarro, a Health Education and Promotion Officer at DOH WV CHD, emphasized the urgency of starting the campaign early to raise awareness and promote safer holiday practices.
Collaborations with various agencies are underway to enhance community safety regarding fireworks. Senior Health Program Officer Shem Wilfred Eledia noted that the increase in reported cases last year was largely due to blast burn injuries, with one emergency room death recorded.
The campaign encourages the use of alternative noise-making devices like the ‘torotot’ (toy horn) instead of traditional fireworks. Additionally, the DOH is promoting healthier holiday celebrations, with Neil Salvacion, a Health Program Officer, advocating for ‘Healthy Handaan’ (feast) to combat the prevalence of unhealthy food choices during the holidays.
In preparation for potential incidents, Adriano Suba-an, the DOH Western Visayas Regional Director, has instructed all hospitals and health facilities to prepare emergency medical services under a Code White Alert. These facilities will have designated areas for treating firework-related injuries and will report all such cases to the Fireworks-Related Injuries Surveillance System.