Firecracker injuries hit 23 – DOH

MANILA, Philippines – As the country welcomed Christmas yesterday, more firecracker-related injuries were noted in various hospitals nationwide.

Data from the Department of Health (DOH) Epidemiology Bureau showed 11 cases of firecracker-related injuries as of 6 a.m. yesterday, bringing the total to 23 since Dec. 16.

DOH Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag said the first case of firecracker ingestion was counted among the 23 cases this year. The patient who accidentally swallowed a firecracker was taken to the Amang Rodriguez Medical Center.

Tayag said of the total, 15 were young children while five were bystanders.

According to the DOH, the 23 cases is 28 percent lower than the five-year average and 21 percent less compared to the figure recorded during the same period last year. Eight percent of these were caused by piccolo, an illegal firecracker.

Tayag said 86 percent of the victims were males, with ages ranging from five to 62 years, while sixteen or 73 percent of the total were active users.

Twelve people suffered hand injuries while seven had eye injuries.

The National Capital Region (NCR) accounted for 14 cases or 61 percent of the total, with six in Manila, three in Quezon City and one each from Las Piñas, Navotas and Pasay.

It was the safest and most peaceful celebration so far in the past decade, said NCR police office chief Director Oscar Albayalde yesterday.

The NCRPO recorded no cases of injury or casualty, fire or indiscriminate firing on Christmas Eve.

It was not the same case in northern Luzon though as Roger Iglesia was rushed to the Veterans Regional Hospital in Bayombong after his right thigh was hit by a stray bullet while drinking with friends in Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya province.

Investigators are eyeing the possibility that one of his friends might have fired a gun during the drinking session. – With Non Alquitran, Emmanuel Tupas, Raymund Catindig