DOH: 4 firecracker victims past holidays

By Carlito C. Dar and Larry Lopez

BAGUIO CITY -- The Dept. of Health and its partners from the Police Regional Office and Bureau of Fire Protection reported a generally peaceful Christmas and New Year celebration in the Cordillera.
    In media forum last week DOH – CAR Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit Head Geeny Anne Austria said that based on their fireworks – related injury surveillance report from Dec. 21 to present,  only four cases were recorded in the region, down by 18 cases or 83 percent compared to the 22 cases recorded during the same period of last year.
    Cases of firework – related injuries were recorded in Abra, Ifugao, Apayao and Mountain Province with one each, zero– related injury in Benguet, Kalinga Baguio City and Tabuk City.
    For the recorded injury cases, two were due to “Boga” and one each due to Piccolo and Kwitis.
    Two of the victims were minors (eight and 12 years old) and all of them hadlight injuries (two on their hands, 1 at the neck and the other one, a 12 - year old boy had an eye irritation), Austria added.
    Lt. Col. Marcial Fa –ed of the Police Regional Office Cordillera, in the same forum cited generally peaceful yuletide celebration in Cordillera and that no cases of indiscriminate firing of guns were recorded.
    There was also no fire incident recorded in the region, according to BFP operations division chief Mark Anthony Dangatan.
    With 2020 a challenging year with Covid-19, DOH Cordilera regional director Dr. Ruby Constantino urged the public to maintain a healthy lifestyle and continue to protect themselves by strictly adhering to the minimum health standards and safety protocols against Covid – 19.
    “As we patiently wait for the success of the vaccine trials in our country and as we face 2021, let us be hopeful for a healthier year and remain vigilant to observe the minimum health standards as we practice, Apat Dapat ngayong Bagong Taon: Una – umiwas sa kulob na lugar; Pangalawa – Dapat may isang merong distansya; Pangatlo – gumamit ng face mask at face shield; at Pang – apat  iklian ang interaksyon sa ibang tao”, Constantino said.
    Constantino urged older people, especially those who have co – morbidity illnesses, to stay at home as much as possible.
    At   the same time, other people must also protect the elderly and medically – compromised in their households by ensuring that they are not bringing home the virus through proper adherence to the minimum health standards.
    In Kalinga, police provincial director Col. Davey Vicente Limmong said Kalinga recorded zero injury from firecrackers and stray bullets during the Christmas and New Year   revelry.
    No untoward incident was reported from police field stations during the season, Limmong added.
     The Kalinga Bureau of Fire Protection also reported zero fire case during the period.
    Sonny Esteban of BFP-Kalinga attributed this to BFP’s strict monitoring of fire safety protocol in homes and business establishments and sale of quality standard Christmas lights.
    Limmong reported that for 2021, PNP Kalinga will heighten operations against criminality, illegal drugs and shall continue to support government’s efforts to contain the Covid-19.
    He urged strong police-community partnership for a safe, peaceful and healthy province. -- PIA Cordillera