20 firecracker-related injuries recorded by DOH

MANILA, Philippines — Five days before New Year’s Eve, a total of 20 cases of fireworks-related injuries have been recorded by the Department of Health (DOH).

The latest report from DOH’s Epidemiology Bureau showed that the most recent, consisting of 15 incidents of fireworks injuries, were reported by sentinel hospitals from the morning of Christmas Day to early yesterday.This brings to 20 the fireworks-related injuries reported.

“These were the same number of cases recorded in 2021 (20 cases) and is 29 percent lower than the five-year average (28 cases) during the same time period,” the DOH said in the report.

Central Visayas and Soccsksargen had the highest number of cases with three incidents each.

There were two cases each recorded in the Ilocos region, Bicol, Western Visayas, Davao region and the National Capital Region.

Meanwhile, one case each was logged in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and the Cordillera Administrative Region.Nineteen cases were male. Ages ranged from one to 64 years old.

Twelve of the 20 injuries, according to the DOH, involved active cases or those that actually used the firecrackers. The report also noted that 14 injuries occurred at home.

At the same time, 16 incidents were managed by DOH sentinel hospitals as outpatient cases. The remaining four were admitted.

Eleven cases sustained eye injuries followed by hands with six; arms/forearms with two, and back with one.

No death was reported.

Pyro enthusiasts

Fireworks enthusiasts are now starting to flock to pyrotechnic stores in Bocaue, Bulacan in preparation for the New Year revelry. Lea Alapide, president of the Philippine Pyrothecnics Manufacturers and Dealers Association Inc., said that the fireworks industry in Bocaue, known as the fireworks capital of the country, started receiving big volume of buyers right after Christmas Day.Several fireworks buyers started to stock up as early as first week of December while prices were still low, compared with the rising prices a week before the New Year celebration.Fireworks enthusiasts are in for a surprise as prices of pyrotechnic products have increased by at least 50 percent and may still increase as the New Year approaches, Alapide noted.The drastic increase in the prices of fireworks products depends on their availability, Alapide pointed out, as she noted that local manufacturers can only produce limited products due to the tight supply of raw materials, particularly the chemical ingredients that are usually imported from China. The law of supply and demand has dictated that with limited supply, prices will surely shoot up, Alapide added. or example, Alapide said the aerial 16-shot pyrotechnic device sold within the price range of P2,000 per box on the first week of December is now being sold up to P3,000 per box.On the other hand, Justina Gabuyo of Global Fireworks said that traditional fireworks products have also more than doubled their prices compared to last year.Gabuyo said bestseller traditional fireworks include kwitis are now priced from P12-P20 per piece; sawa 500 rounds at P450; sawa 1,000 rounds at P850; fountain gold at P70; fountain silver at P75; victory light at 50; daylight luces at P100; mini tungkod at P350 and tungkod at P600.

Meanwhile, the first fireworks-related injury treated at the Jose B. Lingad Memorial Hospital in San Fernando City, Pampanga was reported on Saturday afternoon. Dr. Monserrat Chichioco confirmed that the patient was a nine-year-old boy treated for a massive fireworks injury on his right side caused by an improvised cannon (boga).Chichioco said the boy was from Barangay Colgante, Apalit, Pampanga and was injured around 4 p.m. on Dec. 24 and brought to the hospital around 6:22 p.m. Simple firecracker injuries can be treated in government and private Level 2 hospitals, Chichioco said. However, if the patients require debridement and reconstruction including rehabilitation, patients are referred to Level 3 hospitals with trauma and burns unit.Among the Level 3 hospitals of the DOH in Central Luzon are Jose B. Lingad Memorial Hospital, Paulino Garcia Memorial Medical Center in Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija and Bataan General Hospital and Medical Center in Balanga city, Bataan.These Level 3 hospitals have both trauma and burns units, Chichioco added. Dr.Hjordis Marushca Celis, provincial public health officer II of Bulacan, said no fireworks-related injuries were reported in Bulacan as of yesterday. Reports at the provincial health office have shown a downtrend in fireworks-related injuries. Data showed that the 2019 New Year fireworks-related injuries in Bulacan totaled 107, with two of the patients needing amputation, while the 2020 New Year’s celebration has 34 fireworks-related injuries with one patient needing amputation. –  Ramon Efren Lazaro