BY GERARD NAVAL

HEALTH officials yesterday called on those injured in the New Year revelry to immediately seek medical attention as they could develop tetanus infection.

"It’s more dangerous than the ordinary wound," said Dr. Eric Tayag, head of the Department of Health-National Epidemiology Center.

Tetanus is a type of bacteria that contaminates wounds and could be fatal if left untreated.

It has an incubation period of eight days to three weeks.

Among the symptoms of a tetanus infection are headache, lockjaw, high fever and weakness.

Tayag noted that, on the average, those with minor firework-related injuries wait for at least two days before seeking medical attention.

The January 2 Kampanya Kontra Paputok 2010 Surveillance Report of the DOH-NEC showed there were 794 cases of firecracker blast and burns, stray bullets and firework ingestion from December 21 to January 1. the figures are not yet final because the count will continue until Jan. 5.

The 794 cases are 204 (26 percent) lower than the 590 cases recorded from Dec. 21, 2009 to Jan. 1, 2010.

The DOH-NEC report said 749 cases or 94 percent were due to fireworks, 35 (5 percent) to stray bullets, and 10 (1 percetn) to fireworks ingestion.

Data showed 220 of the firecracker-related injuries were caused by piccolo followed by "kwitis" (115), five-star (48), pla-pla (43), and luces (32).

Five hundred eighty-five or 78 percent of the injuries resulted in blast or burns without amputation while there were 48 (6 percent) cases that needed amputation. another 116 (16 percent) sustained eye injuries.

Thirty-two percent or 243 firecracker-related injuries involved children between 1-10 years old.

Some 430 (57 percent) victims were active users while 68 (37 percent) were under the influence of alcohol when they got injured.

There were also two new cases of poisoning from fireworks ingestion, bringing to 10 the number of cases.

The lone fatality in the firework ingestion category was a 44-year-old woman from Malolos, Bulacan, who allegedly committed suicide by consuming powder equivalent to around 64 sticks of piccolo.

Metro Manila police chief Nicanor Bartolome said there were 10 cases of stray bullets from Dec. 16 to Jan. 1 compared to 21 during the same period in 2009.

Bartolome said cases of stray bullets were recorded in Caloocan City (three) and one each in Valenzuela City and Taguig City.

Bartolome asked local government units (LGU) to legislate measures for a "total ban" on firecrackers to finally put an end to the deaths and injuries during Christmas and New Year revelry.

Bartolome said the total ban coupled with an intensified information campaign as well as cooperation of the public will help do away with the yearly procession of victims to hospitals.

He cited the case in the cities of Davao and Makati where the total ban was in place.

The total ban of firecrackers in Davao City has been in effect for several years.

In Makati, the total ban on firecrackers was implemented in barangays Bangkal, Pio Del Pilar and Magallanes which are traversed by the damaged pipeline of the first Philippine Industrial Corp. (FPIC) as authorities raised the possibility of an explosion due to a leak in the pipeline. – With Raymond Africa and Ashzel Hachero

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