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Firecracker injuries rise to 277 – DOH

by Jericho Zafra

PUBLISHED ON January 4, 2023

Recently updated on February 8, 2023 12:58 am

THE number of firecracker-related injuries during the recent holiday period has risen to 277, with the National Capital Region recording the highest number of cases in the country, the Department of Health reported Wednesday.

According to the DOH, the NCR accounted for 48 percent or 131 cases of firecracker-related injuries, with one stray bullet injury, from December 21, 2022, to January 4, 2023.

The current tally of firecracker injuries is 49 percent higher compared to the 186 cases from the same period in 2021, the DOH said.

But the health department noted that compared to the five-year average of firecracker-related injuries, the number of injuries this year is 12 percent lower.

“Kwitis” caused the highest number of firecracker-related injuries, accounting for 57 or 21 percent of the total injuries. This was followed by “boga” with 33 and “5-Star” with 22 cases.

These firecrackers are included in the list of prohibited pyrotechnic devices by the Philippine National Police.

Of the total cases, 80 percent or 220 patients were male and their ages range from 1 to 80 years old, the DOH said.

Of the victims, 77 individuals or 28 percent sustained eye injuries, while 17 individuals, accounting for 6 percent of the total, had blast/burn injuries with amputation.

The DOH reminded the public to immediately clean the injury after sustaining wounds from the firecrackers and to immediately consult with the nearest healthcare facility to be given proper treatment.

“Let’s not pick up with our hands the remaining fireworks that can be found on the road, and watch the children so that they don’t blow or play with them,” the DOH said in an advisory.

Earlier, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire advised all those injured by firecrackers to get their tetanus shots from the nearest DOH sentinel hospitals.

The anti-tetanus shots are given for free, she said.

Prior to the celebration of Christmas and New Year, president Marcos Jr. advised local government units to put up fireworks displays for their constituents to prevent them from using dangerous firecrackers.

DOH: don’t play with firecrackers on New Year’s eve