Tips For Safe and Asthma-Free New Year’s Eve Celebration

Are you ready to face 2018? I am but I am not too thrilled with all the pollution and trash New Year’s Eve celebrations bring. Don’t get me wrong. I honestly love fireworks but not the debris, smoke and smog that comes after.

According to the Department of Health (DOH), thick curtain of smog envelops cities and densely populated areas after New Year’s eve celebrations. It is common knowledge that people go all out during this day and displaying all their wonderful fireworks is also in their list.

I respect that. Plus, it’s part of our culture to drive away evil spirits and bad luck by making noise. However, with or without respiratory problems you have to be careful and responsible too. People should take the necessary precautions to achieve a safe and asthma-free New Year’s Eve celebration. 

How? Here is a list I compiled based on experience and interviews with family and friends.

Double check your medicines. Never ever ran out of medicine. Whether it’s a tablet/capsule or inhaler, check if you have them in your medicine cabinet. For the inhaler, double check the counter right now. If you need to buy, visit your pharmacist before all the merriment.

Have your surgical mask ready. Whenever I go out of the house, I always have a surgical mask or handkerchief in my pocket. But if people have already started displaying their firecrackers or fireworks, I wear it.

Prepare a wet washcloth, too! I just learned about this from my pulmonologist. She said that surgical mask or any type of face mask won’t keep toxic dust and smoke away. Cover you nose with a wet cloth or towel to prevent inhaling anything that would trigger asthma attacks and allergies.

Opt for a community firework display. This one is basically hitting two birds with one stone. Why, you ask? Well, besides asthma attacks firecracker-related injuries is also a problem.

According to reports, from December 21, 2016 to January 5, 2017, a total of 630 fireworks-related injuries were recorded by DOH sentinel sites. These are 319 cases (34%) less than the five-year (2011-2015) average and 292 cases (32%) less compared to the same time period of last year. Of the total 630 cases, 627 were from fireworks injuries and 3 cases of fireworks/firecrackers ingestion.” 

Since the Philippine government targets a minimal, if not zero, injuries throughout the whole season, the slogan “Oplan: Iwas Paputok. Fireworks Display ang Patok! Makiisa sa Community Fireworks sa Inyong Lugar” remains.

This means that people are encouraged to join community festivities. If you decided to, please don’t litter. Take care of your trash.

But if you can’t leave home, there are many other ways for you to welcome 2018. Plan a family get together on New Year’s Eve. Enjoy a lovely and grand media noche. Play some music and just be merry.

Help make New Year’s Eve celebrations safe and asthma-free for everyone!

Merry Christmas & a Happy New year!

Image courtesy of picturebridge at pixabay.com