BAGUIO CITY – The city government’s hope to achieve a zero firecracker-related casualty this year was dashed by one “passive” case recorded last Thursday, the city epidemiology surveillance unit of the City Health Services Office bared.
CESU head Dr. Donnabel Tubera said the victim is an 18-year old male from Pinsao Proper barangay who sustained a blasting injury in his small finger (right hand) caused by a piccolo lit and thrown by a child along his way.
He was managed as outpatient at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center.
Tubera said this was the first firecracker-related injury recorded this year.
Last year for the same period, the city had zero case.
At the close of New Year revelry lat year, the city had a total of eight injuries recorded although 15 submitted themselves for check-up.
Mayor Mauricio Domogan and CHSO head Dr. Rowena Galpo expressed hopes that the city will have fewer cases than last year.
The CHSO advises the public that “there is no safe firecracker and pyrotechnic devices.”
“If injured, wash wounds with flowing water for five minutes then rush to the hospital; Do not pick up unlit paputok and just join community fireworks display manned by a pyrotechnician.”
In a press statement, the Office of the Executive Secretary issued a prohibition on the sale, manufacture, distribution and use of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices which contain gunpowder exceeding two grams or 1.3 teaspoons or those using sulfur and/or phosphorus mixed with chlorates.
Also prohibited are Piccolo; Super Lolo; Whistle Bomb; Goodbye Earth; and Atomic Big Triangulo.
“We likewise ask the public to take note of the list of firecrackers (pumuputok) and pyrotechnic devices (umiilaw) allowed under Republic Act (RA) No. 7183, which include the following:
“Firecrackers: Baby rocket; Bawang; Small triangulo; Pulling of strings; Paper caps; El diablo; Watusi; Judah’s Belt; Sky rocket (kwitis); and other types that are equivalent in explosive content.
“Pyrotechnic Devices: Sparklers; Luces; Fountain; Jumbo regular and special; Mabuhay; Roman candle; Trompillo; Airwolf; Butterfly; all kinds of pyrotechnic devices; and other types equivalent to the foregoing devices.”
The Executive Secretary also reminded that “Executive Order No. 28, which the President signed earlier this year, provides for the regulation and control of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices. The EO limits the use of allowable firecrackers to ‘community fireworks display.’ Such use qualifies as community fireworks display if they are conducted as part of a celebration held in a venue other than the place of residence, and under the supervision of a trained person licensed by the Philippine National Police (PNP), and allowed by the municipality or city through a permit which specifies the date, time, and specific area in which it will be conducted.”
Pyrotechnic devices that are allowed such as sparklers may be used within residential premises, according to the statement. ** Aileen P. Refuerzo