he Department of Health (DOH) through spokesperson Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo on Wednesday said firecracker related injuries recorded this new year went down by 64 percent compared to 2024.
Domingo told ‘Dateline Philippines’ on ANC that the DOH recorded a total of 141 fireworks-related injuries between New Year’s Eve (December 31, 2024) and New Year’s Day (January 1, 2025).
The health agency logged a total of 340 firecracker related incidents since December 22, 2024 up to 6:00 a.m. on January 1 from 46 out of 62 sentinel sites. The figures are 34 percent lower in comparison to the total of 519 cases recorded on January 1, 2024.
According to Domingo, they recorded 15 amputations of body parts this year. Most injuries affected the eyes and the third most common was burns because of fireworks.
Based on DOH data, most of the victims were aged 5 to 19 years old—a total of 239 out 340 cases—and 88 percent of them were male.
Domingo reminded the public to see a doctor when they are wounded due to firecrackers to avoid tetanus infections.
“Fireworks are dirty wounds and you need to be seen by a doctor in case you’re a victim, no matter how small it is,” Domingo said.
DOH continued to warn the public to avoid picking up firecrackers that did not explode, and douse them with water to ensure safety when cleaning their surroundings.
The health department also advised parents to watch over their children and make sure that they do not pick up unexploded firecrackers. Having a first aid kit at home is also promoted for quick aid in case of any injuries.
