Keep It Safe on New Year’s Eve: New Year Safety Tips

New Year Safety Tips

First of all, let me greet you a HAPPY NEW YEAR! Is it just me or did 2014 breeze by so fast? So much happened in the last 12 months and I still can’t believe we’re already welcoming 2015. Wow.

Anyway. It’s New Year’s Eve and in a few hours, I’m sure many of you will be taking out your firecrackers to welcome 2015 with a bang. Although this time is all about celebrating the incoming year with loud music and a spectacular display of fireworks, let’s not forget about our safety! Here are some safety tips provided by the Bureau of Fire Protection that we should all take note of:

New Year Safety Tips
  1. Only use authorized firecracker products. The following firecrackers are prohibited:
    • Watusi or Dancing Firecrackers
    • Super Lolo and Atomic Big Trianggulo
    • Lolo Thunder
    • Boga
    • Big Bawang
    • Goodbye Philippines
    • Atomic Bomb
    • Pla-pla
    • Giant Whistle Bomb
    • Piccolo
    • Mother Rockets
    • Pillbox
    • Big Judah’s Belt
    • Kwiton
    • Kabasi
    • Five Star
    • Og
    • NOTE: Please report sellers of prohibited firecracker products to your local BFP or PNP stations.
  2. Follow manufacturer’s instructions on the label.
  3. Use a flat and solid surface with no dry grass or anything flammable nearby when lighting firecrackers.
  4. Do not use matches, candles, lighters, sparklers, and cigarettes to light firecrackers. Instead, make use of punk incense sticks to avoid the cracker from blasting on your hands.
  5. When a firecracker stand ignites, move away. Never stand over it. Although I wonder why there are some who’d actually stand over it…
  6. Should a firecracker fail to ignite or go off after being lit, do not attempt to re-light. Place it in a can of water and dispose.
  7. Wear safety gadgets like a sturdy baseball cap or hard hat, gloves, ear plugs, face mask, and goggles to protect yourself.

The Department of Health recently launched the Anti Paputok Campaign with a video showing adults and children alike who got injured because of the misuse of firecrackers. It’s a bit gruesome, but I think this is a really good way to get people to take extra caution when using firecrackers. If you haven’t seen the video, you can watch it here:

What should you do when you get burnt by a firecracker?
  1. Run the injured body part under cold running water as this reduces the heat and helps clean the wound.
  2. After washing, dry the injured body part with a clean dry cloth.
  3. Apply a topical anesthetic burn spray or aloe vera cream.
  4. Apply antiseptic cream and wrap wound with a clean soft sheet or gauze.
  5. Administer an analgesic like ibuprofen or paracetamol.
  6. Take the victim to the hospital for further treatment.

There you have it–let’s all be careful as we celebrate the new year! Again, happy new year everyone! ENJOY AND BE SAFE!

Kimberley Reyes

Kimberley Reyes is an Online Business Manager for entrepreneurs who are ready to get off the hamster wheel and step into their CEO shoes. On top of helping her clients get organized and scale their businesses, she is also happily busy raising her five kids with her firefighter husband.

This Post Has 6 Comments

  1. work@homeMillie

    I hate paputok every since! Good thing, the universe heard me, it rained so mejo walang paputok 🙂

  2. Janice

    This is a great reminder for those who still use fire crackers. It has been years since we used any. We have been watching fireworks instead in other places such as the Mall of Asia. It’s a lot safer that way.

  3. Sol Razo

    Thanks for sharing, we usually lock ourselves at home during New Year’s Eve since me and my kids has asthma. But I admit that I really love watching those fireworks light the sky!

  4. I had a near fatal firecracker incident with my brother years ago. I never lighted a firecracker since then. It is better safe than sorry.

  5. Pingback: It's A Wrap ♥ December | Mom On Duty

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