No deaths, cases of fireworks ingestion or stray bullet injuries were reported over the recent Christmas holidays, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said on Monday.
Overall, the Department of Health recorded a 27-percent decrease in fireworks-related injuries, or a total of 463 cases nationwide, for the period from Dec. 21 to Jan. 5.
Duque said the DoH is not letting its guard down and is on the lookout for tetanus cases.
“We are reminding all those who have incurred some form of injury due to fireworks to please consult your nearest health facility for proper wound care and management,” said Duque, adding that tetanus is a serious complication from fireworks injuries, which may lead to death.
“Again, we thank President Rodrigo Duterte for the passing of Executive Order No. 28, the local government units, non-government organizations and other government agencies who have supported the DoH anti-firecrackers campaign,” the health chief said.
To reduce the number of injuries during the New Year festivities further, Duque said DoH will continue its advocacy against illegal firecrackers and target the youth, who comprise the majority of victims.
Macon Ramos-Araneta
The DoH also emphasized the importance of coordinating with other agencies of government such as the Department of the Interior and Local Government and local government units in the passing of local ordinances on the enforcement of EO 28 and pushing for safe and secure community fireworks display.
The DoH will also work with the Department of Trade and Industry in the regulation of the manufacture and sale of firecrackers and in providing alternative livelihood for the firecracker industry.
“Together with other authorities of the government, we shall intensify our drive against fireworks-related injuries until we achieve our target of zero casualty,” Duque added.
Of the total 463 cases nationwide, the National Capital Region topped the list with 248 cases, followed by Ilocos Region (46 cases), Calabarzon and Western Visayas (45 cases each), Central Luzon (28), and Central Visayas and Bicol (15 cases each).
Of the total 248 cases in NCR, Manila (116 cases) had the most number of injuries, followed by Quezon City (30), Valenzuela City (17), Pasig City (16), and Marikina City (14). The cities of Caloocan and Mandaluyong had 13 cases each.
Ages of cases ranged from 11 months to 69 years old. Majority (79 percent) of the cases were males. About 55 percent were active users while 77 percent of these injuries occurred in the streets.
The top anatomical sites of injuries were hand (49 percent), eye (17 percent), forearm/arm (14 percent), head (13 percent), and legs (9 percent).
Majority (81 percent) of the cases sustained blast injuries without amputation, about 17 percent are eye injuries, while about 4 percent are blast injuries requiring amputation.
Ages of cases requiring amputation ranged from three to 62 years old. Most of these were caused by camara, piccolo, and whistle bomb (2 cases each).
Piccolo (33 percent) and kwitis (12 percent) are the top fireworks causing injuries, followed by unknown fireworks (11 percent), luces (6 percent), and fountain (5 percent).