CESU campaigns on zero firecracker-related injuries

The City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit of the Baguio City Health Services Office encourages the public to abide by Ordinance No. 53 series of 2029 prohibiting the sale or explosion of firecrackers within the city limits to ensure zero firecracker-related injury during the yuletide season.

Medical Technologist Ruby Marie Magsino, CESU disease surveillance officer said the city is mandated to support the Department of Health’s target on zero firecracker-injury.

“We also target zero fireworks-injury and zero stray bullet-injury thus we encourage parents to watch out for their kids and use natural noise makers instead,” Magsino said.

She said all the 16 District Health Centers in the city will be on 24-hour daily monitoring of firecracker-injury beginning December 21, 2023 at 6AM until January 6, 2024 at 6PM.

On January 2, 2022, the city recorded two firecracker-related injuries during the New Year revelry breaking its two-year zero case streak in the past two New Year’s Eve celebrations.

The patients are both females, aged 34 and 43 who sustained injuries in the head and face both caused by “kwitis.”

Both cases were also considered as passive meaning they were not the ones handling the firecracker during the incidents that happened Jan. 1. They were managed as outpatients at the hospital.

In case of a firecracker injury, Magsino said the wound should be washed with clean water and soap, covered with clean cloth and the patient should be brought to the nearest health facility immediately. – JMPS