Firecracker injuries grew by 9%; review of local ban sought
A man waits for his drug prescription after being treated for his hand injury following the raucous celebration to welcome the New Year Wednesday Jan. 1, 2014, in Manila, Philippines. AP/Bullit Marquez
MANILA, Philippines — The total number of injuries caused by firecrackers from Dec. 21, 2013 to Jan. 1, 2014 grew by nine percent from the 2012 Christmas to 2013 New Year period, prompting health officials to renew their calls to review the current laws on the use and sale of firecrackers and other explosives.
The National Epidemiology Center of the Department of Health reported a total of 1,018 New Year revelry-related injuries from 50 sentinel hospitals nationwide.
The number was nine percent higher from the total number of injuries culled in same period of the 2012 Christmas to 2013 New Year season, and eight percent higher from the average number in the last five years.
Of these, 997 were caused by firecrackers, two by firework ingestion and 19 by stray bullets.
One fatality was reported: a 12-year-old boy who died after the powder from firecrackers he was collecting exploded.
The DOH started their annual count on December 21, 2013.
Most of the injuries (587 or 58%) came from the National Capital Region while the other regions with the most number of injuries were Region IV-A with 80 cases (8%) and Region VI with 73 (7%). Region I had 65 (6%).
Most of those injured were men while children below 10 years old accounted to 250 or 25 percent of the total number.
There were less bystanders who had injuries among those who had injuries this year (363 or 36 percent) compared to 450 or 50 percent in 2012.
Piccolo remained the main cause of injuries with 376 cases (38 percent).
Ona also noted that there were fewer stray bullets this year compared to 2012.
Ona stressed that the number of injuries could have been reduced if fewer revelers had used piccolo, an illegal and imported firework.
He said since piccolo has consistently been the top firework that caused these injuries for the last few years, the local governments should review the procedures on the enforcement of their existing ordinances.
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