I thought watusi has been banned
By iluvusabado
@iluvusabado (2560)
Philippines
December 5, 2012 8:37pm CST
I hope you’re familiar with the firecracker watusi”. It’s like a red matchstick. Actually, the burn /effect of the explosion are really not that big, just very minor burns. The more dangerous concern is when the user swallows the watusi or he puts his hand into his mouth. Watusi is highly poisonous. There are people (most are kids) who have died after ingesting watusi.
I believe selling of watusi has been banned by the government before. I was shocked that in our place some of the kids are playing with watusi. They are mostly 8-12 years old and I believe they are well-informed of the hazards of the firecracker. According to them, they wash their hands with soap and water after lighting up the firecracker.
Still, I want the selling of watusi to be banned totally since it’s easily available in sari-sari stores. Smaller kids who are not aware of the hazards of watusi may play with them and accidentally swallow them.
7 responses
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
6 Dec 12
I think it is still banned but you won't see it being completely rid of. If that happens, a lot of firework factories will be out of business. They know it is banned but if they don't produce it (and there's a market for it) they will lose profits. It's an illegal products and if the enforcing of the law is not that tight, products like watusi will still be around. People will still buy them because they are stubborn and they will only learn if they are caught in a misfortune. All they see is the excitement in the watusi and not the danger it possess (or perhaps they really don't care about the outcome).
@LetranKnight25 (33121)
• Philippines
6 Dec 12
With lack of enforcers in our country, even barangay's won't eve have luxury of their time forbidding and arresting people that uses this kind of small fireworks. just too many jobs these cops needs to get done rather than preventing people from buying these, it's xmas therefore new year isn't that too afar away either. 
@iluvusabado (2560)
• Philippines
7 Dec 12
i think that's the problem in the philippines. we have good laws and policies but the implementation is ineffective.
@LetranKnight25 (33121)
• Philippines
6 Dec 12
Hello Iluvusabado, as long as there is many people that are selling this product, you can never get rid of it. there are so many people who would buy this specially if it's sold cheap.. I won't be surprised if some one gets hurt or even die from the watusi because they use it with out caution or less than that they already know.
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.@iluvusabado (2560)
• Philippines
6 Dec 12
every year, there are casualties from watusi. all because of poisoning of course.
@aabuda (1722)
• Philippines
6 Dec 12
It should have been banned long time ago. It is so dangerous. Kids of very young age doesn't know how to protect themselves. They sometimes play it and even swallow it. But since it is easily available in one of our sari-sari store, then, I think the store owners should be responsible enough of not letting very young kids to buy. In that way, we can lessen the danger effects of it.
@jaiho2009 (39142)
• Philippines
6 Dec 12
I believed that this is already banned, but still there are manufacturers selling these in rural areas.
Maybe you can report this to your municipality.
It's too dangerous for little kids and we know that we -the old ones sometimes doesn't know that the little kids already played with that thing and give them food without washing their hands.
@ardoy0731 (7308)
• Philippines
6 Dec 12
Well I want it too to be totally banned cause its really dangerous especially to children. I think it was banned but there are still people who are keep selling it without thinking the safety of kids that might buy it. It should really be banned and parents should not let their kids buy and play with it.
@Mavic123456 (21898)
• Thailand
6 Dec 12
Yes, it was banned way back 2005 I think or no..around 2000.
And actually the vendors selling them were put into jail and with fine more expensive that their stores. though some people are so stubborn to keep on producing and selling of this stuff. Maybe after their children will be one of the victims, they will surely stop.. or if they themselves. People don't learn and when something happened blame it on the Government
and ask money from the government.
and ask money from the government. 
