In preparation of the New Year festivities, the Department of Health Bicol Center for Health Development in partnership with the Bicol Medical Center (BMC), and the provincial offices of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) conducted a press conference for Iwas Paputok at the BMC auditorium on December 27, 2024.
DOH Bicol CHD Regional Director Dr. Rodolfo Antonio M. Albornoz, represented by Dr. Rey Millena, Provincial DOH Officer of Camarines Sur, urged the public to use safe alternatives like drums, cooking sets, or watch community fireworks displays. He said that it is better to celebrate the New Year safe and healthy away from the potential risk of firecrackers.
Ms. Julie Ann Granadino, Violence and Injury Prevention Program Coordinator, presented the latest Firework-Related Injury Surveillance report. She explained the serious complications of FWRI such as amputation, complete blindness, and infection which may cause financial and emotional turmoil.
Dr. Quennie A. Fernandez, Medical Officer IV, BMC Emergency Department, said that the BMC is equipped and ready to attend to any firework-related incident in their premises. The BMC emergency room has an inside operating room ready for patients needing immediate surgical procedures.
On the other hand, Fire Superintendent Atty. Hyacinth N. Grageda-Mirabel, Provincial Fire Marshal, BFP Camarines Sur said that several fire incidents in the region were linked to pyrotechnics (fireworks). She said that the BFP fully implements the activation of the BFP regional and provincial emergency operation centers,
raising of alert status, deployment of personnel, ambulances, and apparatus in strategic areas.
Police Captain Liza Jane Alteza, Provincial Information Officer of Camarines Sur Police Provincial Office-PNP, said that their office has deployed PNP personnel to enforce the firecracker law. She said that the PNP remains to be vigilant in implementing and enforcing laws to avoid untoward incidents caused by firecrackers, especially for the coming New Year. (DOH5/MDUB)
(Source: DOH Bicol CHD)