DOH: ‘Piccolo’ lead cause of fireworks-related injuries

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Health on Tuesday cautioned people from buying the prohibited “piccolo” as it was identified as the lead cause of fireworks-related injuries nationwide.

In the latest bulletin issued by the DOH-National Epidemiology Center Fireworks Injury Registry, 113 in 162 posted fireworks-related injuries were caused by piccolo.

The health department added that current figures on fireworks-related injuries, which was recorded from Dec. 21 to 29, are 67 cases lower than the cases listed from 2009 to 2013 and 113 cases lower compared to last year’s figures.

Two cases of fireworks ingestion have been recorded with no reported fatalities. The latest case of fireworks ingestion is that of a nine-year-old boy from La Loma, Quezon City who was rushed to the UST Hospital after ingesting “lucis.”

The DOH fireworks injury registry revealed that most of fireworks-related injuries are from the National Capital Region with 71 cases.

“Fireworks-related injuries” are classified by the DOH as: direct firework injuries, stray bullet injuries, and fireworks ingestion.

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