THERE ARE NO SAFE FIRECRAKERS OR FIREWORKS --- DOH
http://www.doh.gov.ph/node/2490
Press Release, 17 November 2009

The Department of Health (DOH) today strongly advised parents not to allow children to use firecrackers or fireworks whether of the legal or illegal kind.

“These devices are not toys and are very dangerous, especially in the hands of innocent children,” Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said. “We recommend a ban on the use of these devices in residential areas and encourage local authorities to designate an area where fireworks could be lighted, displayed and handled by professionals or those who are trained in using explosive devices,” he added.

Health authorities said that the top 5 firecrackers that caused the most injuries in 2008 were (1) piccolo, (2) kwitis, (3) 5-star, (4) luces and (5) home-made or altered firecrackers.

“Piccolo, an illegal firecracker, continued to be the number one cause of injury during the last holiday season and it did not only cause minor injuries but also severe ones like the ruptured eyeball of a boy in Bicol,” Duque disclosed.

He explained that the public should always be cautious and not to regard the legal fireworks as safe because Kwitis and Luces, both legal fireworks, were No. 2 and No. 4 in the list.

“The seemingly harmless Luces can burn up to 1093 ºC (2000 ºF) or 10 times the boiling point of water,” Duque said.

Duque also disclosed that the top 5 Firecrackers causing “Blast Burn with Amputation” were (1) Home-made or Altered Firecrackers, (2) 5-star, (3) camara, (4) rebentador, (5) and whistle bomb.

DOH records show that Watusi, long considered as illegal, continued to sneak in the market and caused two cases of injuries this year. The youngest case was a 9-month old girl from Tondo, Manila who was left unattended in the house by her parents while an elder sibling played with Watusi. She was brought to the Philippine General Hospital for treatment.

The second case was a 31 year-old male from Rodriguez, Rizal with a history of psychiatric treatment. He allegedly ingested 2 boxes of Watusi. He was brought to East Avenue Medical Center for treatment. Both patients survived.

Health authorities said that there is also a significant increase in the number of stray bullet incidents caused by the indiscriminate firing of guns. These were reported in the two regions in Mindanao with no previous records.

ON-LINE REGISTRY

To further improve coordination among agencies and health facilities involved in injury prevention, the DOH is introducing the Online National Electronic Injury Surveillance System - an internet-based system that allows health facilities to report fireworks injury cases.

The 2008 Fireworks Injury Surveillance Report gathered by the DOH National Epidemiology Center recorded an all-time low in the total injuries reported compared to the previous four years' report.

Duque said that the 733 injuries reported from December 21, 2008 to January 5, 2009, is 280 (28%) cases lower than the previous four-year average, and 136 (16%) cases lower than the 2007 report.

The National Capital Region had the highest proportion of cases reported with 451 (61%) cases, followed by Western Visayas with 86 (12%) cases, and the Ilocos region with 58 (8%) cases.

The ages of cases ranged from 8 months old to 76 years old. Majority (594 or 81% cases) were males. A total of 261 (36%) cases were 10 years old or younger. However, the number of persons in each age group declined substantially, especially the 6 - 10 and the 11 - 15 age groups when compared to the previous year.

“We have total injuries of 714 (97%) cases which were fireworks-related, 17 (2%) cases were stray-bullet injuries and 2 (0.28%) cases were Watusi/firecracker powder ingestion”, Duque noted.

“The top three body parts which sustained most injuries were the hands with 277 (38%) cases, lower extremities with 130 (185) cases and head and neck with 103 (14%) cases. Most of the injured were discharged after initial treatment in the Emergency Room”, he added.

“The lone fatality reported, a 28 year-old mother from Cotabato City was a victim of stray bullet. That is why we should be vigilant in reporting indiscriminate gun-firing incidents during the holiday season to prevent this unnecessary and fatal events”, Duque lamented.

Meanwhile, there were no injury from organized public display nor tetanus due to fireworks injuries reported for 2008.

A total of 50 sentinel hospitals participated in the surveillance conducted for injuries resulting from fireworks use, stray bullet from indiscriminate firing, and watusi/firecracker powder ingestion related to the Yuletide celebration. The participating sentinel hospitals were located in the National Capital Region (29), Luzon (11), Visayas (5) and Mindanao (5).





FDA LAUNCHES HOTLINE FOR DRUG COMPLAINTS OR PROBLEMS
http://www.doh.gov.ph/node/2484
Press Release/27 October 2009

Any complaints on the drug you’re taking?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the Department of Health (DOH) launched today a hotline for reporting any complaints of drugs sold in the country.

Consumers may now report to the FDA any complaint or problem with their medicines to telephone # 807-8275, or text 0905-4171771 or 0909-2080500, or email at ireport@bfad.gov.ph. Reports may also be made through the Bantay Gamot Report Forms available in most drugstores.

“In this age of globalization, consumerism, free trade, and increasing use of the internet, the ordinary person now has easy access to different drugs and medicines. Combine this with the penchant for self-medication and the need to improve the drug dispensing practices of our pharmacists and we have a potentially harmful situation where drug safety is questioned,” Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III declared.

To address this situation, the FDA came up with the Medicines Surveillance Integrating Consumer Reporting Project in the National Capital Region which aims to educate consumers on the proper use of drugs and increase consumer awareness as to where to report complaints or problems with their medicines.

Previously, the FDA has received consumer reports that led to the detection of substandard drug preparations, adverse drug reactions and counterfeit medicines.

“These reports involved illegal business operation practices, such as operating without a license or a registered pharmacist, unlawful dispensing of drugs in the absence of a pharmacist, selling of unregistered drug products, or expired drugs, or suspected counterfeit drugs,” Duque explained.

Other reports were about errors in drug dispensing, common side effects of medicines, lack of drug efficacy, false claims of food supplements, and quality defects,” the health chief added.

“All reports will be treated as confidential and shall be analyzed and investigated following FDA protocol.” Duque assured.

In case of complaints against any drug, the caller may give his name, address, and contact numbers; however, in case of adverse drug reactions, the caller will be asked to give this information and other clinical data as needed.

“The FDA is committed to guard efficiently our nation’s drug supply and advocates patient care to protect the right to health of every Filipino,” Duque
concluded.


FDA NEWS RELEASE
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm193373.htm
For Immediate Release: Dec. 8, 2009

Media Inquires: Rita Chappelle, (o)301-796-4672; (c) 240-753-8603, Rita.Chappelle@fda.hhs.gov
Consumer Inquires: 1-888-INFO-FDA
FDA Launches New Pet Health and Safety Widget

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today launched its pet health and safety widget for consumers as part of an ongoing effort to provide timely, user-friendly, public health information.

“Our new pet health and safety widget provides users with information to help them in managing their pet’s health,” said Joshua Sharfstein, M.D., FDA’s principal deputy commissioner.

The widget, a portable application embedded in a Web page that can be copied onto any other Web site or blog, will include topics such as how to report a problem with your pet food, purchasing pet drugs online, and caring for your pet in a disaster. The widget allows users to access content on the FDA’s Web site without having to leave another site or Web page.

“The pet health and safety widget allows users to add a new dimension to their Web site by providing consumers with the latest news and information from the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine,” said Bernadette Dunham, D.V.M., Ph.D., director of FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine.

The widget has two tabs, one titled “tips” and, the other, “updates. The Tips tab highlights pet health and safety articles. The Updates tab will provide up-to-the-minute recall notices and veterinary drug news for consumers.

The pet health and safety widget is available at www.fda.gov/PetHealthWidget requires no technical maintenance on the part of the user. The FDA will provide updates to content displayed on the widget.



FDA's MedWatch Safety Alerts_November 2009
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm192103.htm#UnapprovedDrugs:RockHardWeekendandStiffNights
* Early Communication: Safety of Meridia
* Recall: Pai You Guo, Marketed as a Dietary Supplement
* Recall: Vicks Sinex Nasal Spray
* Unapproved Drugs: RockHard Weekend and Stiff Nights
* Recall: Dietary Supplements sold by IDS Sports and Bodybuilding.com
* Early Communication: Safety of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Systems
* Potential Failure of Powerheart and CardioVive Automated External Defibrillators
* Plavix and Prilosec Drug Interaction

After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a product and it is on the market, FDA continues to monitor unexpected and undesirable side effects (adverse events) of that product.

Health care professionals and consumers may report side effects, product quality problems, product use errors, or therapeutic failure with the use of medical products to FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail, by fax, or by phone.

* Online
* Regular Mail: Use postage-paid, pre-addressed FDA form 3500
* Fax: 1-800-FDA-0178
* Phone: 1-800-332-1088

MedWatch reports can signal a safety problem and lead to an FDA action to protect the public from harm, serious illness, or even death.

Here are a few of the most recent safety alerts prompted by reports received by FDA from health care professionals and their patients.


Early Communication: Safety of Meridia

FDA is reviewing preliminary data from a recent study suggesting that people using the prescription drug Meridia (sibutramine) have a higher number of cardiovascular events (heart attack, stroke, resuscitated cardiac arrest, or death) than those using a placebo (sugar pill).

FDA approved Meridia in 1997 for use, together with a reduced calorie diet, for the management of obesity. Meridia is only recommended for obese people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater, or BMI of 27 or greater with other risk factors such as diabetes, high cholesterol, or controlled high blood pressure. (To determine your BMI, see the BMI calculator.)

This information is part of FDA's effort to communicate early with the public when the agency is still evaluating data and has not reached a conclusion. FDA will release its findings on Meridia as soon as it completes its review.

The risk: The preliminary data in a study of about 10,000 people show that cardiovascular events were reported in 11.4 percent of those using Meridia compared to 10 percent of those using a placebo. This difference is higher than expected, suggesting that sibutramine is associated with an increased cardiovascular risk in the people in the study.

Recommendation: Talk to your health care professional about whether Meridia is right for you.


Recall: Pai You Guo, Marketed as a Dietary Supplement

Pai You Guo, a weight-loss dietary supplement, has been recalled because FDA
lab analyses found the product contains two undeclared drug ingredients:

* sibutramine, an FDA-approved drug used as an appetite suppressant for weight loss
* phenolphthalein, a solution used in chemical experiments and a suspected cancer-causing agent that is not approved for marketing in the United States

FDA has not approved the Pai You Guo product as a drug; therefore, its safety and effectiveness are unknown. The product is sold in either a box of 30 capsules or a 10-gram (g) bag of powder. The affected products were sold and distributed nationwide via the Internet.

The risk: Sibutramine is known to substantially increase blood pressure or pulse rate in some people, and may present a significant risk for individuals with a history of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, or stroke. Phenolphthalein is a suspected cancer-causing agent.

Recommendation: Destroy the products or return them to GMP Herbal Products Inc. (See How to Dispose of Unused Medicines.) For more information, call GMP Tuesday through Saturday at 866-995-8585.


Recall: Vicks Sinex Nasal Spray

One lot of over-the-counter Vicks Sinex Nasal Spray in the United States has been recalled, along with two other lots in Germany and the United Kingdom.

The recalled U.S. product is Vicks Sinex Vapospray 12-Hour Decongestant Ultra Fine Mist, 15 ml, Nasal Spray, lot number 9239028831.

The risk: The bacteria B. cepacia was found in a small amount of the drug made at the manufacturer’s German plant. There have been no reports of illness; however, the bacteria could cause serious infections for people who have a compromised immune system or those with chronic lung conditions, such as cystic fibrosis.

Recommendations:

* Check to see if you have the U.S. recalled product. The lot number is listed on both the outer carton and the bottle.
* If you have the recalled product, throw it away. (See How to Dispose of Unused Medicines.)
* You may call the manufacturer, Procter & Gamble Company, for a replacement coupon or refund at 877-876-7881.


Unapproved Drugs: RockHard Weekend and Stiff Nights

Two products sold as dietary supplements contain sulfoaildenafil, a form of an FDA-approved drug used as a treatment for erectile dysfunction. The affected products are

* RockHard Weekend, sold nationwide in single blister packs, and in 3-count and 8-count bottles. This product has been recalled.
* Stiff Nights, distributed on Internet sites and at retail stores by Impulsaria LLC of Grand Rapids, Mich. The product is sold in bottles containing 6, 12, or 30 red capsules or in blister packs containing one or two capsules.

The risk: The presence of sulfoaildenafil makes RockHard Weekend and Stiff Nights unapproved drugs. The undeclared drug ingredient, sulfoaildenafil, may interact with prescription drugs known as nitrates, including nitroglycerin, and cause dangerously low blood pressure. People with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart disease often take nitrates.

Recommendations:

* If you have unexpected side effects from sexual enhancement products, contact your health care professional.
* You may return any unused RockHard Weekend for a full refund to RockHard Laboratories; call 800-562-0543 for instructions.

For more information, see Hidden Risks of Erectile Dysfunction "Treatments" Sold Online.


Recall: Dietary Supplements sold by IDS Sports and Bodybuilding.com

Dietary supplements sold by two companies have been recalled because the products contain undeclared substances that FDA considers to be steroids.

IDS Sports’ recalled products are

* Bromodrol
* Dual Action Grow Tabs
* Grow Tabs
* Mass Tabs
* Ripped Tabs TR

The recalled products were distributed in either black boxes containing blister packs of 60 capsules or white bottles with black labels containing 30 or 60 capsules.

Bodybuilding.com’s recalled products include all lots and expiration dates of 65 dietary supplements listed in the company’s press release.

The risk: Severe liver injury is known to be a possible harmful effect of using products that contain steroids. Steroids may cause other serious long-term adverse health consequences in men, women, and children, such as

* shrinkage of the testes and male infertility
* development of male sexual characteristics in women
* breast enlargement in males
* less than normal height in children
* a higher predisposition to misuse other drugs and alcohol
* harmful effects on blood fat (lipid) levels
* increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and death

Recommendations:

* Stop using the recalled products immediately.
* Call your health care professional if you have had any problems that may be related to using these products.
* Return any unused products from Bodybuilding.com to the company. Call 866-236-8417 or e-mail service@bodybuilding.com for instructions.

For more information, see the video and consumer update, Warning on Body Building Products Marketed As Containing Steroids or Steroid-Like Substances.


Early Communication: Safety of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Systems

FDA has received reports of six deaths and 77 injuries associated with Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) systems over the past two years.

NPWT systems help to heal open wounds by applying negative pressure (a vacuum) to the wound in order to remove fluids and infectious materials and to draw wound edges together.

Recommendations:

If your doctor has determined that you are a good candidate for using NPWT at home, you or your caregiver should

* Receive adequate training from your doctor, nurse, or home health care provider so that you understand how to use your NPWT device. Demonstrate to your trainer how to use the device to make sure you are using it properly.
* Understand the possible complications that may be associated with using your NPWT device. Watch especially for bleeding, which can be life-threatening. If you see signs of bleeding, get medical help right away.
* Get NPWT patient instructions (labeling) from your doctor, home health care provider, NPWT distributor, or the manufacturer’s Web site. Keep these instructions where you can easily find them.
* Talk to your health care professional if you do not feel capable of managing the NPWT device at home.

For a full consumer update, see Negative Pressure Wound Devices Draw FDA Notice, Advice.


Potential Failure of Powerheart and CardioVive Automated External Defibrillators

Cardiac Science Corp. has received multiple complaints related to defective components in some of its automated external defibrillators (AEDs). These devices may not deliver electric shocks, and the devices’ self-test may not detect the defect in advance of their use.

The affected devices are the following models of the G3 series, which were manufactured between August 2003 and August 2009:

* Powerheart models 9300A, 9300C, 9300D, 9300E, 9300P, 9390A, 9390E
* CardioVive 92531, 92532 , and 9253

These devices are used for emergency treatment of victims with symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest who are unresponsive and not breathing. The devices may be found in public buildings, airports, and other facilities, and are also used by emergency response personnel in hospitals and ambulances.

Recommendations:

* If alternate AEDs are available, use those AEDs until the Cardiac Science Corp.’s AEDs have been repaired or replaced, or consider obtaining another AED.
* Contact the company immediately to arrange for repairs or replacements. In the U.S., call 425-402-2000 (press option 1); outside the U.S., call +44-161-926-0011; or e-mail AED175@cardiacscience.com.
* If an alternate AED is not available, use the Powerheart and CardioVive AEDs if needed, as the units may still be able to deliver the necessary treatment. The consequences of not attempting to defibrillate a patient outweigh the risk that these devices may fail.

FDA continues to investigate this problem and will make available any new information that might affect the use of these AED devices.


Plavix and Prilosec Drug Interaction

FDA has new data showing that when Prilosec (omeprazole) and Plavix (clopidogrel) are taken together, the effectiveness of Plavix is reduced by almost half. Taking the two medications at different times will not reduce this drug interaction.

Plavix is used to prevent blood clots in people at risk for heart attacks or strokes. Prilosec is available by prescription and as an over-the-counter medication to treat frequent heartburn.

Other drugs that may also reduce the effectiveness of Plavix and should be avoided when taking Plavix include both prescription and non-prescription (over-the-counter) products:

* cimetidine (such as Tagamet)
* fluconazole (such as Diflucan)
* ketoconazole (such as Ketozole, Nizoral, Extina, Xolegel)
* voriconazole (such as Vfend)
* etravirine (such as Intelence)
* felbamate (such as Felbatol)
* fluoxetine (such as Prozac, Sarafem, Symbyax)
* fluvoxamine (such as Luvox)
* ticlopidine (such as Ticlid)

Recommendations:

* Talk to your health care professional if you use Plavix and are currently taking or considering taking Prilosec. He or she may suggest other available medications to reduce stomach acid.
* Talk to your health care professional about any prescription or over-the-counter drugs you are taking before starting or while using Plavix.

This article appears on FDA's Consumer Updates page, which features the latest on all FDA-regulated products.

Date Posted: December 1, 2009


FOTOPEDIA (www.fotopedia.com)

www.fotopedia.com


Google Health
http://www.google.com/intl/en-US/health/


Negative Pressure Wound Devices Draw FDA Notice, Advice
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm193277.htm


PANGLOSS (www.pangloss.com)

www.pangloss.com


visualgeography web site
http://www.visualgeography.com/


Children's Plush Books Recalled by Simon & Schuster Due to Choking Hazard
http://us.mc1113.mail.yahoo.com/mc/welcome?.gx=1&.tm=1260419000&.rand=drsib288q92rj#_pg=showMessage;_ylc=X3oDMTBucmhobGR0BF9TAzM5ODMwMTAyNwRhYwNkZWxNc2dz&mid=1_47484248_AKEPw0MAAV%2F5SyBWlQLCOBvs0RE&fid=Inbox&sort=date&order=down&startMid=0&filterBy=&.rand=1039912846&hash=4fb266366088a2dcedb7c04050509691&.jsrand=6816455
NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 9, 2009
Release # 10-059

Firm's Recall Hotline: (800) 732-9531
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

Children's Plush Books Recalled by Simon & Schuster Due to Choking Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Monday the Bullfrog Plush Books

Units: About 142,000

Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster Inc., of New York, N.Y.

Hazard: The plastic eye on the frog can detach, which may pose a choking hazard to young children.

Incidents/Injuries: Simon & Schuster has received reports of three plastic eyes that detached after use and one unit that was packaged with a detached eye. No injuries have been reported.

Description: Monday the Bullfrog is a plush puppet bullfrog with a board book attached to the frog's mouth. It was sold in clear plastic packaging, and the book is marked with ISBN numbers 10: 1416912312 and 13: 9781416912316 printed inside the mouth of the bullfrog.

Sold at: Bookstores and retailers nationwide and online from January 2006 through November 2009 for about $18.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately place the product out of a child's reach and contact Simon & Schuster for a free replacement product.

Consumer Contact: For more information, call Simon & Schuster at (800) 732-9531 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the company's Web site at http://kids.simonandschuster.com



congress web site
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humanrights philippines
http://www.humanrights.gov.ph/?hr=1&hmr=3&article=0



Philippine Information Agency web site
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Supreme Court of the Philippines web site
http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/

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