Sarangani hopes to achieve zero firecracker-related injuries during the holidays

 

ALABEL, Sarangani (December 19, 2022) - "Let's celebrate the holidays together with our families na ligtas, hindi putol ang mga daliri at hindi bulag," Medical Technologist Federico Yadao said as he advocated to the Sarangans a fun but safe and injury-free holidays celebration.

Yadao hoped the province could sustain this year the zero reported cases of firecracker injury in the previous year.

A firecracker injury prevention forum was held on December 15 to orient the partners and discuss the province's preparations for Firecrackers Prevention Injury Month.

The forum was held also to heighten public awareness of the serious threats posed by firecrackers during the festive time of the year.

"We really see that the 2022 celebration is different from the past celebrations," Yadao lamented as he anticipated that this year will be a comeback celebration of Christmas and New Year after the Covid-19 pandemic.

He reckoned that injuries could not be prevented “because we cannot penetrate sa mga households that really want to use firecrackers and fireworks,” but he encouraged “regulated use” of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices to avoid severe incidents.

Piccolo, among the many types of firecrackers, is said to be the most dangerous as it is one of the smallest yet most accessible firecrackers to people, especially to children.

During the forum, Yadao encouraged the municipalities to pass an ordinance or enforce an existing ordinance on the prohibition of the use of illegal fireworks and conduct community fireworks displays instead for the public to join in.

In the forum, the Provincial Health Office (PHO), together with the Provincial Department of Health Office (PDOHO), convened partners from the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Army, the Provincial Information Office, and the disaster offices and health offices of the seven municipalities, to prepare for the holiday season. (Jori Mae R. Samillano & photos by Mosler Paul Lapore/SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)

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