Firecrackers and the New Year

CEBU, Philippines – Filipinos greet the New Year with loud noises supposedly to ward off evil spirits, by using noisemakers ranging from cardboard horns to car horns. An especially popular practice is the use of fireworks, a tradition adopted from the Chinese, who make use of them on Chinese New Year. Firecrackers and other pyrotechnics are usually set off, even before the New Year arrives.

Despite the dangers involved in the manufacture and use of fireworks, Philippine government officials had been - again - unable to stamp out the practice. The Department of Health launched its yearly campaign of "Oplan Iwas Paputok 2014," purposely to promote the no-use of firecrackers during the holiday season.

The theme for last year's campaign was "Mahalaga ang buhay, iwasan ang paputok." It aimed to lessen the number of firework-related injuries - which it did, although details are still being collated from various areas nationwide. Based on the combined data of the DOH, Philippine National Police and Bureau of Fire Protection, the tally for 2013-2014 was 1,018 cases for the whole country, including one casualty.

In Central Visayas, previous records showed that in the December 21-to-January 2 period, injuries related to the holiday celebrations increased by18 percent in 2013 with 99 cases compared to the 84 cases in 2012. This, despite consistent efforts of reminding the public of the dangers posed by firecrackers. The firecracker that victims use commonly include kwitis, piccolo, pirate, sparkler, thick long, triangle, whistle bomb, hotdog, watusi, lantaka, and fountain.

All public hospitals are placed on Code White Alert from December 21 to January 5 of the holiday season, meaning that a hospital's emergency medicines, especially trauma, are fully stocked and made accessible at the emergency room. Hospitals are placed on Code White Alert when there is likely to be mass casualty incidents.

Under this alert status, medicines and supplies in the operating rooms are also reviewed and increased to meet abrupt requirements. Hospitals are to make available other needs, like x-ray plates and laboratory supplies. Most patients are not required to pay for the services rendered and the supplies used on them.

The Department of Health always reminds the public to use safe and alternative means of welcoming the New Year. They suggest the use of trumpets or other means to make noise and enjoy the holidays without firecracker-related injuries. But, as of the last New Year's celebrations, the reminder has yet to be fully heeded.