The total fireworks-related injuries reached 288 cases after 52 more cases were recorded by the Department of Health on the second day of 2019.
The Fireworks-Related Injury Surveillance Report released on Thursday covered the period of Dec. 21 until the early morning of Jan 3.
The Health Department said the 288 cases this year was 43 percent lower compared to the same period last year and 66 percent lower than the 5-year average.
Of the 288 cases, the DOH said 286 were injured by firecrackers while two cases were due to “fireworks ingestion.”
Of the victims, 231 were male. Those affected were between the ages of two to 76 years old, with a median age of 16.
The top causes of injuries were the “kwitis” or rocket with 65 cases, followed by ‘luces’ with 29, piccolo with 20 cases, PVC cannon or “boga” with 18, and 5-star with 16.
Of the number, 27 cases were recorded in National Capital Region; five cases each from Region VI, Region VII, Region III; three each from Region I, Region XII, and Region IV-A, and one from Region XI.