The Department of Health reported a 35 percent decrease in firecracker-related injuries but cautioned the public that these numbers may still increase due to late consultation.
There was no case of firecracker ingestion, stray bullet injury, and death reported.
From Dec. 21, ember 2019 to Jan. 1, 164 firecracker-related injuries were reported, 87 cases lower than the 251 cases reported last year (249 firecracker related injuries and two cases of firecracker ingestion). The number of cases this year is 71 percent lower than the five-year average (2014-2018) of 403 cases.
“We were able to reduce cases by as much as 35 percent, this is indeed a welcome development but we will not stop until we achieve zero firecracker-related injuries. We will build on the gains this year to ensure that the next holidays will be safer for every Filipino,” Health Sec. Francisco T. Duque said. He added that those injured should immediately have their consult at the nearest health facility for proper health management and to avoid fatal complications like tetanus.
Most of the cases came from the National Capital Region (84), Calabarzon (13), Ilocos Region (12), Central Luzon (11), Cagayan Valley and Western Visayas (10 cases each).
For NCR, most cases came from Manila (27), Quezon City (19), Mandaluyong (nine), Marikina and Las Piñas (seven cases each). Overall, NCR registered a 16 percent decrease in the number of injuries compared to last year.
Males comprised 70 percent of all injuries. Ages of cases ranged from one to 71 years. One hundred four (63 percent) injuries were among those aged under 15 years.
Top fireworks causing injuries were kwitis (33 cases), luces (19), fountain (18) and piccolo (13). Most injuries were blast/burn injuries without amputation (71 percent), eye injuries (26 percent), and blast/burn requiring amputation (four percent).
About 55 percent of all injuries occurred at the streets while 43 percent cases were sustained at home. Most injured body parts were hands (32 percent), eyes (26 percent), head (13 percent), legs (11 percent) and forearm/arm (nine percent).
Legal firecrackers resulted to 59 percent of all injuries, illegal firecrackers (32 percent) and unknown fireworks (10 percent).
“I urge everyone to remain vigilant of their surroundings to avoid firecrackers related injuries. Safely clean up firecracker debris and dispose of them properly. Also refrain from picking and lighting undischarged firecrackers. Let us stay vigilant and safe these coming days” Duque said. – Press release
April 25, 2024
