6 minors first casualties of 'cracker blasts

MANILA, Philippines - Six people aged four to 13 are the first casualties of firecracker blasts this year, the Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday.

The six cases reported from Dec. 22 to 23 are 57 percent lower than the eight cases recorded during the same period last year, according to the DOH’s “Kampanya Kontra Paputok” surveillance system.

Dr. Eric Tayag of the National Epidemiology Center said all the victims used piccolo, one of eight banned firecrackers.

Piccolo is popular among children because it is like a match ignited by scratching an end of the stick on the rough surface of its box, he added.

Tayag said piccolo sticks often explode before revelers can throw them away, adding that authorities must seize piccolo, which accounted for 30 percent of firecracker-related injuries during the last New Year revelry.

Tayag asked parents to stop their children from playing with any type of pyrotechnics so they would not get injured.

The report showed that three of the six cases, who suffered cuts and burns in the hands, are from Metro Manila.

Five of the cases were active users or directly handled firecrackers, while one was a bystander.

One of the victims was brought to the East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City, while two were brought to Ospital ng Tondo, two to Baguio General Hospital and one to Veterans Medical Center in Nueva Vizcaya. 

No amputations were made.

The lone female was eight years old from La Trinidad, Benguet, Tayag said.