First aid tips on 'cracker injuries

AS hospitals gear up for the rash of firecracker-fireworks-related injuries from the coming New Year revelry, the Department of Health (DOH) yesterday gave first-aid tips for firecracker blast burns as well as poisoning.

Dr. Eric Tayag, head of the DOH-National Epidemiology Center (NEC), said first degree burns should be immediately be run through water or soaked in iced water before drying these up and wrapped in gauze.

"If there‘s bleeding, put pressure on the wound directly para matigil ang bleeding then i-elevate ang arm na affected kasi pwedeng himatayin ang bata," said Tayag.

He said burns with phosphorus should first be wiped before they are run though water.

In cases of poisoning due to firecracker ingestion, Tayag advised that the victim be fed with five raw eggs so as to coat the gastrointestinal tract to prevent the chemical from sticking to the stomach.

"Dalhin sa ospital kase doon pwede magbigay ng antidote (for poisoning)," he said.

The DOH has placed all government-run hospitals under Code White Alert in order to ensure the preparedness of hospital personnel, equipment, medicines and facilities.

Meanwhile, the number of those injured by firecrackers and stray bullets reached 201 from the period of December 21 to 28.

"One hundred and eighty-nine (94 percent) were due to fireworks, seven (4 percent) to stray-bullets and five (2 percent) to fireworks ingestion," the December 29 Kampanya Kontra Paputok 2010 Injury Surveillance Report showed.

Ninety-six cases or 48 percent were caused by the illegal firecracker piccolo followed by "kwitis" (18), five-star (15), whistle bomb (9), "boga" (9), and triangle (7).

One hundred and twenty-three or 65 percent of those injured were active users or directly handled firecrackers while another 24 got injured while under the influence of alcohol. Fireworks ingestion remained at five. – Gerard Naval

Source: http://www.malaya.com.ph/12302010/news8.html