Firecracker injuries still lower than last year: health department

December 30, 2017

Injuries from firecracker-related cases remain lower than the same period last year on the penultimate day of 2017, the Department of Health (DOH) said Saturday.

Aksyon: Paputok Injury Reduction 2017 reported 77 firecracker-related injuries have been recorded nationwide as of 6am  December 30.

"This is 54 cases (41 percent) lower than the same time period last year," said the DOH report. Np cases of stray bullets and firecracker ingestion were reported.

The illegal firecracker piccolo is still the number one cause of injuries with 49 cases (64 percent); followed by boga, another illegal pyrotechnic, with 6 (8 percent).

Injured body parts were mostly hands with 53 cases (69 percent); followed by eyes with 12 (16 percent); and head with 7 (9 percent).

Most injuries involved active users at 60 (78 percent), and occurred in the streets at 58 (75 perce nt).

The National Capital Region has the most number of injuries with 40 cases (52 percent); followed by Western Visayas with 9 (12 percent); and Bicol with 8 (10 percent).

In Metro Manila, a total of 22 cases (55 percent) were in the City of Manila. DMS