CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines – The Department of Health (DoH) 7 has reiterated its call to the public against the use of guns and firecrackers during the coming New Year celebration as the city recorded one incident of stray bullet injury and nine-firecracker related injuries.

DoH 7 Director Susana Madarieta said the public should avoid using firecrackers and guns for their own safety during the New Year celebration and instead use the traditional “torotot” and other sound-making instruments.

She reiterated her call after receiving reports that a 24-year-old woman from Brgy. Bulacao in Cebu City was rushed to the hospital after she was hit by a stray bullet last Christmas Eve.

The DoH 7 also received reports of nine persons injured by different firecrackers during the Christmas revelry. The number of injured persons could increase as it has been a tradition of Filipinos to use unsafe firecrackers to celebrate the coming of the New Year, said Madarieta.

The DoH 7 has launched its anti-firecrackers campaign dubbed “Aksyon: Paputok Injury Reduction” or APIR. Madarieta said the APIR campaign refers to the completeness of the five fingers when doing the high-five.

Although firecracker-related injuries is declining in Central Visayas, Madarieta reminded the public to use safer merrymaking materials such as trumpets, vehicle horns and other safe noisemakers in welcoming 2012.