Time for TOTAL BAN on firecrackers/fireworks

[DailyCore]

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PNP added its support for a total ban.

And now for the news.

Firecracker victims warned vs tetanus infection

The Department of Health (DOH) and its 50 sentinel hospitals all over the country are now on “tetanus watch,” urging firecrackers victims to consult doctors at the soonest possible time.

“We went on a tetanus watch since Monday as we expect cases of tetanus which are related to fireworks injuries to begin coming in,” said Health Assistant Secretary Enrique Tayag on Tuesday.

“We are appealing again to people who have wounds and injuries caused by or related to fireworks to see doctors for their injections of tetanus toxoid and tetanus anti-toxin,” added Tayag, who is also the director of the DOH-National Epidemiology Center.

Tayag said among the symptoms of tetanus infection are high fever, lock jaw, difficulties in swallowing and breathing, seizure, and muscle spasms.

“Why take chances? If you were wounded by a firecracker, go see a doctor now,” Tayag said. “Small wounds or cuts caused by firecrackers should not be taken for granted. They are entry points for tetanus-causing bacteria.”

Update on firecracker casualties

Meanwhile, the DOH-National Epidemiology Center reported that as of 6 a.m. of Jan 3, there were 854 firecracker-related cases recorded following the New Year festivities. Of this number, 823 were firecracker-related injuries, 217 of them due to Piccolo; 26 were victims of stray bullets; and five were cases of firecracker ingestion.

Of the 854 cases, 505 were from the National Capital Region.

"The 854 cases are 6 percent lower compared to the same period last year and 4 percent lower compared to the five year-average 2006-2010,” Tayag said.

Small victory

Despite the decrease, Tayag said they are considering it as a “very small victory” in their campaign to “dramatically reduce injuries related to fireworks.”

“We were aiming for at least a 30-percent decrease this year in injuries related to fireworks. It is an incomplete victory," he said.

The DOH-National Epidemiology Center Surveillance Update dated Jan. 3 said a four-month-old boy who was accidentally hit by “boga” — a home-made firework — died last Jan. 1 due to sepsis.

Another fatality was a nine-year-old boy from Cababatuan City, Nueva Ecija, who was declared dead on arrival on New Year’s Eve at the Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center due to massive injury from a firecracker explosion.

Firecracker victims warned vs tetanus infection | GMA News Online | The Go-To Site for Filipinos Everywhere

[emow]

^ if causing tetanus is a basis to ban fireworks, i think they are way out of their heads... If you run and fall down, and scrape your knee, you may get tetanus... If you step on a nail you may get tetanus...If you cut yourself with scissors, you may get tetanus... Should we ban all these also? Why take chances, right?

[æRLO]

you can get tetanus with any open wound. Naa man gani case na tetanus kay na prick siya sa iyang gitanum nga bombils.

[emow]

you can get tetanus with any open wound. Naa man gani case na tetanus kay na prick siya sa iyang gitanum nga bombils.

then they should ban bombils too! hahaha

[behemothharr]

uyon ko i ban para walay samok.ngano man diay mag dakul dakul lang ta inig new year.iparehas nalang sa ubang nasud nga centralized ba.mag fireworks display lang kada may occasion.

[kiybordwaryur]

I dont agree sa "total" ban..

pwede i ban ang mga high power explosives and firecraker pero katong mga dili destructive dili iban..
ug labi na fireworks..kay mao gyud na magdala sa ka bibo sa celebrations..

I suggest padakuon nila ang multa o preso sa violators sa illegal firecrakers.. ug monitor mga factories..
Then mag strikto like sa firearms style..ug liquors.. bawal sa bata pod..

If i limit nila ang amount sa size ug ka power sa firecracker..na even gigunitan pa nimo di ka maputlan kamot..masamad pero
dili maputol... pwde pa na ma tolerate! arun pa tagam..

Dili pod na pwde like other countries nga naa lng sila particular areas sa firework show.. kay we're composed of islands man.
lain lain lugar..iyahay diskarte...

simple..

Just ban destructive ones,limit,monitor manufacturers and imports!
at least ma minimize.. ang maputlan gihapon ako lng maingon mirisi nlng!

[ghostie2472]

So dangerous and deadly.

On the hands of an idiot like that man, it's really dangerous and deadly.

[chris_bern]

total ban na lang jud!!! kay kung e regulate lang nimo ang mga pinoy mangita man ug palusot para lang makapabuto..unya kung magkadisgrasya kay gobyerno na pud pasanginlan.. prevention is better than a pound of cure ba kung baga.

[DailyCore]

Espinoza: I prefer total ban

EVERY Christmas and New Year, we are greeted with reports of injury, death and damage to property caused by firecrackers or fireworks. It’s the same cycle of profligacy.

Pardon me for the language, but some Filipinos do fit the description of “hard headed.” Despite the injuries caused by prohibited firecrackers during the Christmas celebration, many still did not learn their lesson during the New Year revelry.

Even the pleas of President Noynoy Aquino in his New Year’s message for people not to light firecrackers to greet the New Year fell on deaf ears.

Health officials reported that a 10-year old boy died and 739 were injured from firecracker-related accidents. The figure, I suppose, will increase when reports from other regions reach the Department of Health in Manila.

After Christmas and New Year, when reports of injuries caused by firecrackers surfaced, government and health officials appeared worried although they could have said “mirisi” (you deserve it) to the victims also.

Republic Act 7183, the law on firecrackers, was approved on Jan. 30, 1992. It listed the types of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices allowed to be manufactured.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is primarily responsible for the enforcement of the law. The PNP is also authorized to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to regulate and control the manufacture, sale and importation of firecrackers.

In short, the PNP monitors the manufacturers of firecrackers and pyrotechnics. But why are the police unable to the implement this law? Or if they did, have not done enough?

This begs the question of whether cops are on the take from the manufacturers or not.

Not all Filipinos like the big bang of firecrackers but many love fireworks. Many of us were influenced by the Chinese tradition to make noise on New Year to drive away evil and misfortune. The problem is that some of us carried the belief to extreme.

In developed countries, individuals are prohibited from possessing, much less lighting up firecrackers. Davao City has banned the sale of firecrackers and it works.

Davao City entertains the city’s Christmas and New Year revelers with its own fireworks display, just like what other big cities in developed countries do. Davao City should be emulated by other local government units.

A bill introduced by Sen. Manny Villar seeking to amend RA 7183 for stricter regulation on the manufacture and sale of firecrackers has been pending in the Senate committee on public order since August 2010. This makes us suspect that lobby money from firecracker manufacturers stalled the passage of Villar’s bill.

Villar proposed a fine of from P500,000 to P1 million and imprisonment of from six years to 12 year against companies making banned firecrackers and vendors who sell them. They will also have their stocks confiscated and their business licenses revoked.

Villar’s bill may deter violators but not prevent individuals from buying firecrackers and lighting them up anytime anywhere. I would go for total ban on the sale of firecrackers and pyrotechnics to individual persons.

Call me kill joy, but I would rather have a silent night during these celebrations than to have goose bumps when firecrackers are lit beside you or under your car.

Congress should pass a law that bans the sale of firecrackers to individuals. Only the LGUs, in collaboration with private entities, should be allowed to display fireworks in designated places during Christmas and New Year.

Espinoza: I prefer total ban | Sun.Star

[emow]

I fear the day when Filipinos will be totally dependent solely on their leader's version of what is allowable or not....