Dr. Jose Ramoncito Navarro, training officer of the DOH’s National Epidemiology Center, said DOH has advised hospitals to augment their existing manpower and medical supplies in anticipation of an influx of patients during the height of the celebration.
"Private and public hospitals are on alert. They have stocked up (on) antiseptic, gauze and other medical supplies and prepared their emergency room and surgery facilities for those who may be injured during the New Year celebration," he said.
Navarro added that the hospitals’ ophthalmology and trauma experts are also on standby because many patients also suffer eye injuries and shock from the firecracker blast.
The DOH also observed an increase in injuries caused by firecrackers and stray bullets, as well as watusi (dancing firecracker) poisoning, over the past two weeks despite the agency’s call against the use of firecrackers and guns.
In the past 24 hours, 21 more people were rushed to various hospitals nationwide due to firecracker blasts. This has brought the total number of firecracker-related injuries to 155. The number of watusi poisoning cases remains at six, and stray bullet injuries at five.
From Dec. 21 to the morning of Dec. 30, there has been a total of 166 cases of injuries from firecrackers, stray bullets, and of watusi poisoning. This is a 48 percent increase from the 105 cases registered during the same period last year.
The DOH, under its "Iwas Paputok" program, will monitor the number of cases until Jan. 2 next year.
DOH statistics show that Manila accounts for most of the cases, followed by Quezon City. Most of those injured by firecrackers were "active users" who directly handled them.
Records on firecracker-related cases show that 79 percent of patients suffered burn or blast injuries from firecrackers, without any need for amputation. At least 10 percent of the cases were under the influence of alcohol when they were injured, and 70 percent of them were injured when they were out on the street.
However, the Philippine National Police’s Fireworks and Explosives Division (FED) said firecracker-related injuries reached 916 in 2002, with one fatality; and there were 28 victims of stray bullets, with one death, during the same period. — With Edu Punay, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Christina Mendez, and Sammy Santos