Firecrackers, especially the insanely large ones, are most definitely dangerous, not only for the wounds that they inflict on people but for the toxic chemicals that they contain.

And both health and fire officials have strongly warned the public against using them and replacing them instead with safe noisemakers like horns, drums, bells, and gongs.

But don’t look now. It turned out that some of the supposedly benign merry-making tools are also hazardous to your health       

In fact, the Food and Drug Administration is warning the public on the use of the paper horn or torotot, saying the popular New Year prop may be dangerous to children.

“Certain types of torotot are made locally from plastic, foil and paper attached together using adhesives and are used to produce noise during the celebration of the New Year. These parts may be removed during use and might be swallowed by the children,” the FDA was quoted by a broadsheet as warning in its advisory dated December 21 but posted on its website early Wednesday.

The FDA advisory is the latest in a series of warnings from the Department of Health against toys and merchandise that are dangerous to the public health. It is now actively campaigning against firecrackers especially with the looming New Year revelry.

FDA Director Suzette Lazo also said some types of torotot have a small part that may cause small children to choke.

Worse, many such props have no warning labels, and their makers and distributors are not licensed by the FDA.

But don’t worry. Help is promptly on the way in time for New Year’s eve.

Thankfully, the Department of Health also on Wednesday launched ‘the safest firecracker’ in the world that can be used by the public without worrying about getting injured.

DoH Undersecretary Eric Tayag showed a CD containing sound effects of the most commonly used firecrackers during the New Year celebration: Five Star, Super lolo, Judas belt, Watusi, Whistle Bomb, Kwitis, Luces, and Trompillo. The CD also contained a Firework symphony that combines the sounds of all the above mentioned firecrackers in a ‘melodious tone.’

The ‘Goodbye Paputok’ CD was wrapped in an approximately nine-inch triangular brown paper with a wick at the end similar to a popular firecracker ‘Super lolo’. The CD plays for a total of five minutes and 20 seconds.

Tayag said an advertising company approached the DoH and offered their idea for free. The advertising company produced 500 copies of the ‘Goodbye Paputok CD’ for the DoH.

“We will distribute it to local governments, and it is up to them to distribute the CD to their constituents. It can also be downloaded soon in the DoH website,” he said.

The National Police has advised New Year revelers to refrain from using firecrackers and other pyrotechnic materials that only endanger their life and limb.

More than a Happy New Year to all, let’s have a safe celebration of the merriest season of the year!