QUEZON City, Philippines (December 20) – As of January 2014, the Department of Health reported 804 fireworks-related injuries from different hospital nationwide. Lower than last year’s reported fireworks- related injuries with the total number of 894. Most of the injuries are due to blast/burn, eye injuries and amputations.
Everyone wants to celebrate the holidays with fireworks especially with the new year is coming. Although fireworks are fun to watch, one should remember that they are dangerous and can cause injuries. If you don’t want to leave the usage of fireworks to the professionals here are some tips to prevent fireworks-related injuries. Consumer Product Safety issued some tips on how to stay safe when handling fireworks.
- Make sure the fireworks you want to buy are legal in your area before buying or using them.
- Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks, including sparklers.
- Make sure that adults are nearby to supervise fireworks activities.
- Avoid buying fireworks that are packaged in brown paper, which is often a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and could pose a danger to consumers.
- Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse.
- Back up to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.
- Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.
- Never try to relight or handle malfunctioning fireworks. Soak them with water and throw them away.
- Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
- Light fireworks one at a time, then move away from them quickly.
- Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.
- After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding the device to prevent a trash fire.
Protect yourself and your family by following and sharing these tips. Or instead of using dangerous firecrackers, you can choose to celebrate holidays by using things that create noise like “torotot”, It is safer, affordable. Just be creative, so you can celebrate the holidays injury-free.
(written by Mia Lydia Caragay, edited by Jay Paul Carlos, additional research by Lovely Ann Cruz)
