207 firecracker injuries recorded before New Year's Eve

MANILA, Philippines - Two days before New Year’s Eve, a 32-year-old woman from Manila intentionally swallowed 15 sticks of watusi (dancing firecracker). In Quezon City, a 23-year-old man was hit by a stray bullet.

Even before the yearend revelry, the National Epidemiology Center (NEC) has recorded 207 firecracker-caused injuries nationwide.

The youngest victim was two months old, and the eldest was 72.

“This is 38 cases (22 percent) higher compared to last year and 29 (16 percent) higher than the five-year average of daily cumulative cases (2004-2008). No deaths were reported,” the NEC said.

“Eighty-nine (42 percent) were children less than 10 years old. One hundred forty-nine (72 percent) were active users, of whom 10 were under the influence of alcohol,” it added.

Twenty-eight of the victims sustained eye injuries.

Dr. Jack Arroyo, Associated Eye Specialist fellow and president of the American Eye Center, urged the public to avoid contact with fireworks to “keep your eyesight.”

“If you want to continue enjoying life with the benefit of good eyesight, the best thing to do is to keep your distance from fireworks and enjoy them from afar,” he said.

He said families should just watch fireworks displays in big malls and parks to avoid injuries.

Arroyo warned that wearing prescription glasses and sunglasses provide “very little protection against eye injuries” caused by pyrotechnics.

“If you must handle fireworks, then you should ideally wear safety goggles to prevent toxic fumes, chemicals and flying debris from getting into your eyes.”

Among the most common firecracker injuries, he said, are contusions of the eyeball; traumatic iritis, an inflammation of the structures of the eye; eyelid lacerations; corneal foreign body; and corneal abrasions.

The worst, he said, is ruptured eyeball that can result in loss of clear vision or permanent blindness.

He said in case of firework-related eye injuries, the public should immediately seek medical attention. – Sheila Crisostomo