LA UNION — The San Fernando city fire department launched a "torotot" (toy horn) campaign to protect children from the dangers of using firecrackers.

Fire officials distributed more than 500 toy horns to young residents of Barangay Ilocanos Sur, the fourth barangay in the city with the most number of children.

Records from the Department of Health—Region 1 revealed 12 cases of firecracker injuries from December 21 to 25 this year. Of this number, three came from the province of La Union.

The victims of firecracker-related injuries are between the ages of 3 to 30 years old.

Although there are still no reported cases of firecracker injuries in the barangay, the local government opted to give children an alternative way of celebrating New Year's Eve to also prevent fires.

"Yari sa light materials ang mga bahay dito. Malaking factor ito na 'pag di sila gumamit ng paputok, maiiwasan ang sunog," FS/Insp Ma Theresa Alqueza, City Fire Marshall, said.

(Houses here are made of light materials. Not using firecrackers will help avoid fires.)