75% of firecracker injuries occurred at home – DOH

MANILA, Philippines — Seventy-five percent of firecracker-related injuries recorded for the past two weeks occurred at home, the Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday.

As of 6 a.m. yesterday, the DOH recorded 17 firecracker injuries, including three cases reported by government hospitals.

The DOH said 12 of the injuries recorded since Dec. 21 had occurred at home, with nine cases or 56 percent involving active users.

Ten injuries were due to illegal fireworks, with “five-star” accounting for four cases, boga, three and kwitis, two.

However, the number of injuires is 77 percent lower compared to the recorded cases in 2019 and 88 percent less than the five-year average, the DOH said.

It noted that 94 percent or 16 of the total cases were fireworks-related with only one stray bullet injury.

A majority or 12 of those injured were males with ages ranging from 10 to 51 years. More than half suffered blast or burn injuries but did not require amputation. Seven had eye injuries, the DOH reported.

Most or four of the injuries were recorded in Metro Manila while Bicol and Western Visayas regions had three cases each. There was no reported case of firework.

Meanwhile, a significant decrease in the number of fireworks-related injuries were reported in Central Luzon.

Data from the DOH Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit showed that from 30 cases reported from Dec. 21 to 28, the number decreased to only four cases for the same period last year.

Of the seven provinces in Central Luzon, only Bulacan and Pampanga reported two cases each, with victims aged 17 to 43.

In terms of the kind of fireworks that caused the injuries, DOH Region 3 director Cesar Cassion said kwitis accounts for 50 percent, followed by triangulo and baby rocket with both 25 percent.

“Aside from the reduction in cases, another good news is that there were no reported cases of firecracker ingestion, stray bullet injuries and tetanus infection,” Cassion said.

With this, the DOH continues to inform the public of the dangers of using fireworks and advocate alternative and equally enjoyable safe ways of celebrating the holidays and welcoming the New Year, he said.

Cassion also appealed to local government units to continuously enforce and implement the minimum public health standards in their localities such as wearing face masks and shields, frequent hand washing and observing at least one-meter physical distance to avoid contracting or transferring the COVID-19 virus during this holiday season. – Ric Sapnu