Parents warned as another child swallows firecrackers

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) yesterday reiterated its warning to parents to watch over their children after another child was hospitalized for firecracker ingestion.

“We now have two cases of ingestion. We are asking all parents to keep firecrackers away from young children. These are all potentially toxic,” said DOH Undersecretary Eric Domingo.

He said that there is no first aid for firecracker poisoning.

“Do not induce vomiting or intake anything. Bring immediately to hospital,” he added.

According to the DOH, 11 more cases of firecracker-related injuries were reported by its 60 hospitals nationwide from 6 a.m. of Dec. 25 to 6 a.m. of Dec. 26.

This includes a six-year-old boy from Tondo, Manila who reportedly accidentally ingested “pili cracker” that could contain potassium nitrate and potassium chloride. He was rushed to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) on Christmas Day.

A three-year-old girl from Valenzuela City was rushed to hospital last Saturday after she ingested contents of a firecracker, the DOH said.

The DOH said the girl accidentally ingested the contents of a flash bomb last Dec. 21 in Valenzuela.

The following day, she was admitted to the PGH in Manila where she was given treatment.

The DOH noted that the 11 new firecracker-related cases have raised to 24 the total cases recorded since the registry started last Dec. 21.

Records showed four of the recent cases came from Metro Manila and three from Calabarzon. The regions of Mimaropa, Bicol, Central Visayas and Zamboanga peninsula had one case each.

“This is 28 cases (54 percent) lower compared to the same reporting period of 2017 and 26 cases (52 percent) lower than the five-year average,” the DOH added.

Of the 11 cases, 10 were due to illegal fireworks. Eight of the injuries happened on the street while three were at home.

The three leading causes of firecracker-related injuries are boga, triangle and kwitis.

Among the injured were a 10-year-old boy who was rushed to the Pasay City General Hospital last Dec. 24 and a 16-year-old boy who was also hospitalized on Christmas Day, according to hospital records.

A piccolo exploded in the right hand of the 10-year-old while the other victim sustained injury on his thighs after a kwitis exploded near him.

A tricycle loaded with luces or sparklers and fountain fireworks burst into flames yesterday morning along MacArthur Highway in Bocaue, Bulacan.?

Initial investigation conducted by Supt. Amado Mendoza Jr., Bocaue police chief, showed that Rogelio Bonifacio, who claimed to be a licensed fireworks retailer, was traveling toward Marilao town when the fireworks on board his tricycle got engulfed in flames.?

Bonifacio had just procured luces and fountain products worth P10,000 from Queen Elizabeth Fireworks located along Governor Halili Avenue in Bocaue.?

Mendoza said a 20-meter skid mark of chemical ingredient toward the totally burned tricycle was visible along MacArthur Highway.?Police are speculating that a sparkler could have been ignited and eventually set off the other fireworks.– With Emmanuel Tupas, Ghio Ong, Gilbert Bayoran, Ramon Efren Lazaro