NEWS FEATURE - Firecracker victim learns lesson too late

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Jan. 3 (PIA6) – Firecrackers may cause injuries. Life long disabilities.

Kevin at the young age of 10 years is a living testimony to the dangers of firecrackers as he is now screaming in pain due to blast burns in virtually most parts of his body while being treated at a public hospital.

The boy’s cry of intense pain reaches the adjacent rooms as initial medications are being applied to the wounds.

He suffered blast burns because of an explosion from a flash powder or explosive component he and his playmates repacked out of unexploded firecrackers during the New Year’s Eve celebration.

The young victim is also scheduled for operation to amputate his thumb and index finger because of the severity of his injuries that include body burns.

“I have not missed warning him,” said the victim’s mother.

Unaware of the danger because of his innocence and playfulness, the succeeding turn of events became life changing as well as a bitter and sad experience for the youngster.

The young boy was among the 12 blast burn victims in the province during Christmas and New Year celebrations based on the Provincial Health Office (PHO) records as of Jan. 2 this year.

However authorities in Capiz are glad there were no victims of stray bullets according to the Provincial Health Office.

“No victims of indiscriminate firing,” said Capiz Health Education and Promotions Officer Joeffry Espiritu, adding that the figure is about 60 percent lower than the recorded injuries in 2011.

He added that the monitoring and reporting of firecracker – related injuries will continue until Jan. 5 while a month-long watch on tetanus cases due to firecracker – inflicted wounds will run until Jan. 21.

The decrease on victims of firecracker-related injuries is attributed to the intensified “Aksyon: Paputok Injury Reduction” (APIR) campaign by the Department of Health, PHO, Philippine National Police, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) last month.

Policemen even helped in posting APIR campaign posters and conducted house-to-house campaign for a safer holiday celebration.

A composite team also confiscated firecrackers from unaccredited manufacturers during an inspection of local retailers and their merchandise at the firecrackers and pyrotechnics trade zone here.

Concerned government agencies and local government units have been trying hard for the success of APIR but until illegally manufactured firecrackers and careless individuals patronize it, more Kevins will be added in the blast burns list every year.

The case of Kevin should be a lesson learned for all – that government campaigns must not fall on deaf ears, that we should not wait for a finger or vision lost due to firecrackers, and to refrain from these risky and dangerous noisemakers. (JCM/AAL/PIA 6 Capiz)