Boy, 8, loses hand

MANILA, Philippines - A boy lost his right hand after a firecracker prematurely exploded while three other persons were hit by stray bullets, the Department of Health (DOH) reported yesterday.

In its “Aksyon: Paputok Injury Reduction” registry, the DOH said the boy from Cebu City got his right hand mangled after igniting a triangular firecracker that prematurely exploded. 

One of the three stray bullet victims, on the other hand, was a 40-year-old woman from Barangay Holy Spirit in Quezon City who got hit on her left thigh while standing in front of her house.  

DOH Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag had pointed out that Barangay Holy Spirit is among the “most dangerous places” based on its records of firecracker-related injuries from 2010 to 2012.

The two others were a 37-year-old man from Rodriguez, Rizal who sustained a bullet wound on his right shoulder while a 28-year-old man from Marikina City was hit on the right leg. Both of them were outside their houses.

Tayag said these cases brought to 262 the total number of revelry-related injuries as of 6 a.m. yesterday.

Of this figure, 254 were firecracker-related while eight were from stray bullets and one from fireworks ingestion.

The report showed the cases were “39 (17 percent) cases higher than the 5-year average (2008-2012) and 55 (27 percent) cases higher than the same time period last year.”

Piccolo still accounted for a majority of the cases at 164. Almost half or 127 of the cases came from Metro Manila.

“(The) age range is 1-65 years (median is 11yrs), (while) 79 (31 percent) were children below 10,” the report added.

Fifty-nine of the cases were passive users while 34 of the firecracker injuries required amputation, the DOH said.

In Central Luzon, officials yesterday reported five cases of firecracker injuries and one hit by stray bullet.

The five victims are from Guagua, Pampanga; Palayan City, Nueva Ecija; and three cases from Zambales.

A six-year-old girl was hit by a stray bullet in Quezon town in Nueva Ecija but survived after being taken to a nearby hospital.

In Region I, officials reported 11 cases of firecracker injuries, the youngest at five years old from Cauayan City, Isabela.

Cagayan, Nueva Vizcaya and Isabela accounted for most cases of firecracker injuries, while a 14-year-old boy was hit by a stray bullet in Bantay, Ilocos Sur but survived.

Authorities, meanwhile, are sustaining the campaign against illegal and oversized firecrackers with the arrest of six Chinese peddling illegal pyrotechnics in Zamboanga City.

Regional police director Chief Superintendent Juanito Vao said six Chinese, whose names were withheld pending investigation, were among the 10 who were arrested.

DOH Assistant Secretary Roland Cortez, on the other hand, advised all revelers not to be complacent if they sustain even minor cuts or minor burns with skin opening from firecracker blasts.

Cortez said fireworks are known to contain cow manure so they could easily cause tetanus.

“They have been saying that dried cow’s manure is also being used to manufacture firecracker so we could easily assume that they are very dirty and tetanus can easily develop. It was said that the manure could make the explosion louder,” he said.

Cortez also warned that firecrackers are made of toxic chemicals.

“If you sustain wounds or burns from firecrackers, the best thing that you should do is to wash the wounds or burns with running water and, if you can stand it, use soap. Wrap it with clean handkerchief or towel and then see a doctor,” he said. – Ric Sapnu, Raymund Catindig, Roel Pareño, Teddy Molina