Number of New Year casualties surpasses last year’s figures

The number of injuries from the recent New Year celebrations have already breached last year’s figures as official count rose to 949 Wednesday, according to the Department of Health.

The daily report on revelry-related injuries showed that figures culled from December 21 to January 4 were 20 cases more or 2.2 percent higher than the count made during the same period last year.

The updated count crushed hopes of health officials, who expected a reduction in the number of people injured due to firecrackers, stray bullets and firecracker ingestion this year.

Preliminary data

On January 1, the preliminary data was 13 percent lower than the 546 cases reported last year and 11 percent  lower when compared with the five-year annual average. Health Secretary Enrique Ona earlier said they were hoping to post at least a 25-percent drop this year.

The count almost doubled from 476 on New Year’s Day to 949 as of

6 a.m. Wednesday, showing that celebrations across the country to greet 2012 were still violent.

But there were fewer fatalities this year with two reported so far, compared to last year’s six deaths.

Statistical breakdown

Of  the 949 revelry-related injuries, 97 percent were caused by firecrackers; 3 percent by stray bullets and less than 1  percent by firecracker poisoning.

At least 234 mishaps were traced to the piccolo, a small, inexpensive and

colorful firecracker lighted like a matchstick while 153 cases were attributed to “kwitis,” a rocket-type firecracker which, when lit, is propelled into the air beyond 40 feet.

Other firecracker-related injuries were caused by five-star and fountain varieties.