Boy is fourth case of firecracker injuries needing amputation

December 28, 2017

A 13-year old boy from Sipalay City, Negros Occidental Thursday became the latest case of amputation from firecracker blast injuries, after using a bazooka, an illegal firecracker.

Based on the latest report of the Department of Health ( DOH), there are four cases of blast injuries requiring amputation as of Thursday.

"He was an active user and sustained blast injury with amputation of 4th digit, right hand and lacerated wound 2nd and 3rd digits," said the DOH report.

There are 61 cases of firecracker-related injuries nationwide, which is 47 cases lower during the same period in 2016.

Hand injuries are most common case with 41 (67 percent); followed by eye injuries with 10 (16 percent); head injuries with 6  (10 percent); and neck injuries with 3 (5 percent).

The illegal firecracker piccolo leads all cases with 36 cases, or 59% percent of the total.

More than half of the injuries occurred in the National Capital Region (NCR) at 32 (52 percent); followed by Western Visayas at 9 (15 percent); and Bicol Region at 7 (11 percemt).

In Metro Manila, 20 cases (62 percent) came from the City of Manila; followed by the 3 cases (9 percent) in Mandaluyong City. DMS