Cebu City—The Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH-7) on Monday reported that the number of fireworks-related injuries on Christmas eve has decreased by 58 percent from 24 in 2021 to only 10 cases this year.
The Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU)-5 reported nine cases of firecracker injury as of Monday, in several towns in the Cebu province.
The report said only one case was reported in Bohol province.
Dr. Eugenia Mercedes Cañal, RESU-7 cluster head, said there are zero injuries due to firecrackers in the highly urbanized cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, and Mandaue as well as in the province of Negros Oriental and Siquijor.
She said the figures from the previous report may differ due to late reports submitted for further verification.
The DOH-7 launched on Dec. 13 the “Oplan Iwas Paputok’ campaign to remind the public to be extra careful as Dr. Jaime Bernadas, its regional director, said they have aimed for “zero firecracker-related incidents” during the Christmas and New Year.
However, Bernadas said his projection for an increase in the number of injuries in firecracker incidents, citing the peoples’ eagerness to return to pre-pandemic normalcy in celebrating the holidays, did not happen as the cases significantly went down this year.
“People may no longer be familiar with how to use firecrackers because the past two years, we didn’t use them. That’s why we really have to take care to avoid injuries,” Bernadas said.
The health department identified kwitis, triangle, lantaka, flying tiger, and hotdog as the top five firecrackers that are causing injuries.
The DOH-7 continued to encourage the public to use alternative ways of making noise to meet the New Year, citing the danger posed by firecrackers.