The Department of Health today reported an overall 27% decrease in fireworks-related injuries for the surveillance period 21 December 2017 to 5 January 2018. There was no reported death, no case of fireworks ingestion and stray bullet injury.
This brings the total number of fireworks-related injuries to 463. Of the total 463 cases nationwide, the National Capital Region (NCR) topped the list with 248 cases, followed by Ilocos Region (46 cases), CALABARZON and Western Visayas (45 cases each), Central Luzon (28), and Central Visayas and Bicol (15 cases each).
Of the total 248 cases in NCR, Manila (116 cases) had the most number of injuries, followed by Quezon City (30), Valenzuela City (17), Pasig City (16), and Marikina City (14). The cities of Caloocan and Mandaluyong had 13 cases each.
Ages of cases ranged from eleven months to 69 years old. Majority (79%) of the cases were males. About 55% were active users while 77% of these injuries occurred in the streets.
The top anatomical sites of injuries were hand (49%), eye (17%), forearm/arm (14%), head (13%), and legs (9%). Majority (81%) of the cases sustained blast injuries without amputation, about 17% are eye injuries, while about 4% are blast injuries requiring amputation. Ages of cases requiring amputation ranged from three to 62 years old. Most of these were caused by camara, piccolo, and whistle bomb (2 cases each).
Piccolo (33%) and kwitis (12%) are the top fireworks causing injuries, followed by unknown fireworks (11%), luces (6%), and fountain (5%).
“After all the number of fireworks-related injuries have been tallied, the DOH is not letting its guard down and is on the lookout for tetanus cases. We are reminding all those who have incurred some form of injury due to fireworks to please consult your nearest health facility for proper wound care and management,” Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said, adding that tetanus is a serious complication arising from fireworks injury which may lead to death.
“Again, we thank President Rodrigo Duterte for the passing of Executive Order No. 28, the local government units, non-government organizations and other government agencies who have supported the DOH anti-firecrackers campaign,” the health chief said.
To further reduce the number of injuries during the New Year festivities, DOH will continue its advocacy against illegal firecrackers and target the youth who comprises majority of victims. The DOH also emphasized the importance of coordinating with other agencies of government such as the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and local government units in the passing of local ordinances on the enforcement of EO 28 and pushing for safe and secure community fireworks display.
The DOH will also work with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the regulation of the manufacture and sale of firecrackers and in providing alternative livelihood for the firecracker industry.
“Together with other authorities of the government, we shall intensify our drive against fireworks-related injuries until we achieve our target of zero casualty,” Secretary Duque concluded.