DOH to parentsand Protect your children against firecrackers

KORONADAL CITY - Health Assistant Sec. Dr. Abdullah Dumama Jr has appealed to parents to ensure their children, especially the small ones, from the dangers of firecrackers.Dumama, former DOH-12 regional director, was in Koronadal City to campaign against the use of firecrackers in welcoming the New Year.He agreed to Koronadal City government's plan to have fireworks display in every barangay instead. All kinds of firecrackers, legal or not,are harmful on human health, Dumama stressed. In 2015, according to DOH 12 Program Coordinator Jenelyn Ventura, 193 persons, mostly children, were injured by firecrackers.South Cotabato had the highest number of firecracker related injuries at 80, according to Ventura.Coming next was North Cotabato with 38, Sultan Kudarat had 26, Gen. Santos City had 21, Sarangani (18) and Cotabato City 10.Ventura said the leading causes of injuries were piccolo, kwitis, 5-star and triangle.About four were hit by stray bullets in the region.