DOH reports drop in fireworks-related injuries in 2016
Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial says that of the 350 cases reported, so far, 348 were caused by firecrackers and fireworks, while the other two involved cases of fireworks ingestion
NEW YEAR’S EVE INJURY. Doctors and nurses at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center in Manila attend to a victim of firecrackers during the New Year’s Eve revelry on January 1, 2017. Photo by Ben Nabong/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – Health officials reported 350 fireworks-related injuries as the country welcomed 2017, 60% lower than the 5-year everage from 2011 to 2015.
Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial said in a news conference on Sunday, January 1, that the number of injuries was as of 6 am of the first day of the year. (READ: New Year shooting, firecracker injuries mar PH celebrations)
“This is lower than the 5-year average of 2011-2015 and lower than in the previous year,” Ubial said.
She said that of the 350 cases reported by the Deparment of Health’s 50 sentinel sites all over the country, 348 were caused by firecrackers and fireworks, while the other two involved cases of fireworks ingestion.
The piccolo, an illegal firework, continued to be leading cause of firecracker-related injuries, accounting for 38% of the cases. Kwitis came in next as 20% of the injuries were caused by the legal firework.
Luces and fountain accounted for 5% of the cases, respectively.
The fireworks and firecrackers surveillance of the DOH began on December 21 and will end on January 5.
Most victims children
Ubial said that a majority of the victims or 58% of the cases are below 15 years old.
Most of the cases – 211 or 60% of the total as of January 1 morning – were reported in the National Capital Region.
In Metro Manila, 28% of the cases were from Manila, 23% were from Quezon City, and 11% from Marikina.
Ubial also cited the “sad” case of a 15-year-old girl from Malabon who was hit by a stray bullet while watching fireworks display at 11:45 pm on Saturday, December 31.
The patient, confined at the Jose Reyes Medical Center in Manila, is currently in a “deep coma,” aided by a ventilator. She could not be operated on, since the bullet is lodged deep in her head.
On January 1, 2016, the Department of Health reported a 53% drop in fireworks-related injuries in 2015 compared to 2014.
Last year, the DOH recorded a total of 932 firecracker-related injuries between December 21, 2015 and January 5, 2016. There was also one death due to massive injuries from an exploding Goodbye Philippines.
The DOH is expected to give updates on the total number of injuries related to the New Year’s Eve revelry until January 5.
The department has proposed to President Rodrigo Duterte an executive order (EO) that would limit the use and possession of firecrackers or pyrotechnic devices in the country, but this has been put on hold until 2017. ## – (Rappler.com)
