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

Housewife killed as Christmas gift explodes in Philippines

Manila - A 31-year-old housewife was killed Wednesday in the Philippines when a grenade hidden in a Christmas gift exploded, police said.

The victim, Yvonne Chua, died immediately, according to Director Nicanor Bartolome, chief of Manila police.

Bartolome said the package was delivered to the victim's house in the Manila suburban city of Taguig.

"There were three grenades inside the package and one exploded as the victim opened it," he said. "The victim was sitting on a sofa and the gift was on her lap when the blast occurred."

Chua's husband and 7-year-old son were not hurt in the explosion.

Bartolome said investigators were still determining who sent the package to the family.

DOH: Hospitals ready for New Year emergencies

With less than 24 hours before the New Year, Health Secretary Enrique Ona declared government hospitals in Metro Manila ready to deal with emergencies from the New Year revelry.

But Ona said the next 12 hours will be critical as this is usually the time the bulk of casualties are brought to the hospitals for treatment.

“I am now double-checking the hospitals. They are ready. But the next 12 hours will be critical as this is the time the bulk of cases come in," he said in an interview aired on dzBB.

He described medical personnel and equipment, including specialists, as “very, very complete" and “all ready."

“Kumpleto tayo sa gamot, sa duktor at sa supplies (We are complete in terms of medicines, doctors and supplies)," he said.

But he also made a last-minute appeal to the public not to light firecrackers or burn tires to welcome the New Year.

“Burning tires in particular can be very toxic," he said.

Ona kicked off his inspections at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center and Tondo Medical Center in Manila. With him was Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim.

As of early Friday, the Health Department’s casualty count had risen to 245, including nine victims of stray bullets. — LBG, GMANews.TV