Firework injuries rise to 21

MANILA, Philippines - Nine days before the New Year, the Department of Health (DOH) has already recorded 21 firework related injuries.

Health Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag, who also heads the DOH's National Epidemiology Center, said 12 of the victims were injured by Picollo, which is ignited by simply scratching it on a rough surface.

Piccolo is a banned firecracker that has been causing majority of the injuries in the past New Year celebrations in the country.

Tayag said the number is based on information gathered by the DOH as of 6 a.m. Tuesday.

The first case registered by the DOH was a nine-year-old boy from Tondo, Manila who sustained injuries on his right thumb and index finger after using piccolo last December 21.

Tayag had said that a five-year-old boy who was an “active user” of firecrackers also sustained wounds on his index finger due to piccolo.

The oldest victim was a 51-year-old man from Caloocan City who suffered an eye injury after he was accidentally hit by a firecracker on his face.