The Philippine Online Chronicles

Some people never learn.

Despite the aggressive anti-firecrackers campaign of DOH Aksyon Paputok Injury Reduction or APIR, some people chose to ignore the warnings of the government.

The people who turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to the government’s safety reminders chose to keep their senses open to something they find more interesting and exhilarating … dangerous firecrackers.

It’s puzzling how some Filipinos are drawn to prohibited firecrackers.   Perhaps, there are some folks who find banned things, more exciting and gratifying.  Are dangerous firecrackers a sweet taboo for some?

Firecracker and indiscriminate gun firing fatalities

“This year is the deadliest of all the years that the DOH has monitored injuries. We did not expect deaths from firecracker injuries, rather just amputations and blast burns,” DOH Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag said in a news conference.

In 2009, 2 deaths were recorded by the DOH annual firecrackers surveillance within the period Dec. 21 to Jan. 5.  In 2010, there were no fatalities. But the recent New Year’s revelry resulted to 4 deaths.

According to GMA News Online, a 20-year old pregnant woman was killed after she was hit by a stray bullet while watching television inside her house in Sulu Province. The powerful blast emanated by “Goodbye Philippines”, an oversized triangular firecracker caused the death of a 21-year old man. He died due to abdominal injuries. Both accidents happened on Dec. 31, 2011.

The news report also included massive firecracker injuries suffered by a 10-year old boy from Cabanatuan City. He was out collecting firecracker remnants. He placed them inside a can and ignited it. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center declared the unidentified minor dead on arrival on Jan. 1, 2012.

On Dec. 29, 2011, a 4-month old boy was accidentally hit in his left eye by a “boga,” an improvised cannon made of PVC. He died 3 days later at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital due to sepsis.

The “boga” and “Goodbye Philippines” are both prohibited by the DOH.

Factors linked to injuries and fatalities

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shares the following reasons why firework-related injuries occur:

1.      Availability – In spite of strict regulations implemented by the government and the Pyrotechnics Manufacturers and Dealers Association Inc. (PPMDAI) on firecracker production, especially the firecracker factories in Bulacan, many dangerous types of firecrackers still find their way to the black market during the holidays. Some prohibited firecrackers are even sold in the open.

2.      Fireworks type – There are legal firecrackers and fireworks sold in the market but the public is advised to take extra precaution when using them. The PPMDAI issued important consumer safety tips when it comes to purchasing, handling and using firecrackers, fireworks and pyrotechnic devices. There are also dangerous and prohibited firecrackers in the market which did not meet safety standards. Using prohibited firecrackers can put your health and life at risk.

3.      Close proximity – Injuries may arise from staying too close to firecrackers and fireworks the moment they explode. Maintain a safe distance to avoid accidents.

4.      Lack of physical coordination - Children are not allowed to handle firecrackers and fireworks because they lack proper physical coordination and maturity to handle them safely. Individuals under 18 years old should always be supervised by an adult.

5.      Curiosity – Children are prone to firework-related injuries because of their excitement and curiosity.  Do not let kids handle firecrackers and fireworks. Teach them never to go near or pick up a firecracker that failed to explode.  Same thing applies to adults.

6.       Experimentation – Homemade and improvised firecrackers and fireworks such as “boga” can be dangerous. The lack of safety standards may result to unpredictable explosions that could endanger lives.

Harmful chemicals and substances

Aside from its explosive abilities, firecrackers and fireworks can be harmful to people’s health because of certain chemicals and substances they contain.

The Department of Health shares the following list of harmful chemicals and substances contained in firecrackers/fireworks and respective health consequences.

• Cadmium – May result to irritation of the lungs and symptoms similar to influenza. If cadmium is inhaled or ingested, its accumulation in the body may later on lead to liver and kidney damage. It may also make bones brittle.
• Lead – It has the capacity to affect the central nervous system and impede brain function.
• Chromium – May cause skin damage and hypersensitivity, nasal mucosa ulceration and nasal septum perforation.  Lung cancer may result due to long term exposure.
• Aluminum – May cause possible impaired memory, dementia and convulsions.
• Magnesium dust and fumes – Inhalation may cause irritation of mucous membranes or upper respiratory tract. There’s also possibility of mental fume fever and deterioration of the central nervous system.
• Nitrates, Nitrite, Phosphates and Sulfates – May lead to dizziness, abdominal cramps, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, weakness and convulsion. Repeated exposure to small doses may result to more serious condition.
• Carbon Monoxide – Consequences include euphoria, headache, eye irritation, narcosis and even coma. It can be fatal if formulation leads to major body systems.
• Copper dust – May cause irritation in the respiratory tract.
• Manganese dioxide fumes – Exposure may result to lung irritation, pneumonia and other symptoms.
• Potassium – Negative effects include chemical pneumonitis, pulmonary edema and others.
• Sodium – Possibility of irritation of the mucous membranes of the nose, throat and respiratory tract.
• Zinc oxide fumes – If it reaches the lungs, it may result to fume fever with symptoms similar to influenza.
• Nitrogen and sulfur oxides – May cause reduction in pulmonary function and mucosal irritation.

Propose ban on the individual use of fireworks

The high number of fatalities and firework-related accidents at the start of the year pushes the Department of Health to widen its new campaign and propose a ban on the individual use of fireworks to significantly lessen cases of injuries and deaths. The possibility of implementing such ban is under careful study and consideration.

Photos: Firecracker photos by P. Used with permission. Some rights reserved.

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Rachel Yapchiongco, also known as Rach to her friends, is a Psychology and Marketing Management graduate of De La Salle University.  She took up MBA at the same university.  Rachel is a full-time mom to a charming young boy and married to an entrepreneur with a passion for cooking. She shares parenting experiences and slices of everyday life on her personal blog called Heart of Rachel.