207 hurt by firecrackers in run-up to the new year

At least 207 people had been injured by powerful firecrackers and celebratory gunfire across the country as of Saturday morning despite a government scare campaign against reckless revelry to welcome the new year, the Department of Health (DOH) reported.

The DOH said this was 16 percent lower compared to the number of cases reported last year.  No deaths had been reported so far.

“This (number) is 38 cases (16 percent) lower than the same period last year and eight cases (4 percent) lower than the previous five-year average (2006-2010),” the DOH said.

Health Assistant Secretary Enrique Tayag said most of those hurt were children. Stray bullets wounded eight people and 197 were injured by powerful firecrackers on December 21-30.

But the authorities feared the number of injuries would rise as Filipinos bid goodbye to a year of natural disasters and economic uncertainty.

The DOH said 122 cases (59 percent) were recorded in the National Capital Region. Those injured by firecrackers were aged 1 to 87 years and a majority of them were male.

More than half (54 percent) of those injured were between the ages of 1 and 10. Eighty-four percent were male and 62 percent had directly handled firecrackers, the DOH said.

It said 151 cases (77 percent) resulted in blasts or burns without amputation, 14 (7 percent) resulted in blasts or burns with amputation, and 31 (16 percent) got their eyes injured.

Of those injured, 18 or 34 percent were at least 15 years and were under the influence of alcohol, 142 or 72 percent used illegal fireworks, and 110 or 77 percent used the piccolo, the DOH said.

“The most common legal firecracker used is luces (21 percent). One hundred forty-four (73 percent) of the injuries occurred in the street,” it added.

To avoid fires during the New Year’s Day celebrations, fire officials issued last-minute warnings to the public.

Chief Superintendent Santiago Laguna, director of the Bureau of Fire Protection-National Capital Region,  reminded Metro Manila revelers not to light candles in their homes and leave these unattended, and  to unplug appliances  if leaving the house.

Laguna also appealed to the public to call the hotline number 117 in case of fire or any other emergency.

The BFP-NCR on Saturday led a motorcade of fire trucks around Metro Manila as part of its campaign against illegal firecrackers and other fire hazards.

Fire trucks from the BFP and volunteer fire brigades converged on the Quirino Grandstand in Manila for a short program before roaming the city streets to warn  the public against using illegal firecrackers and other possible causes of fire.  With an AP report