(FILE) A reveler sets off firecrackers as residents usher New Year in Manila in this photo taken on January 1, 2013. AFP file photo / TED ALJIBE
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday has so far recorded 30 firework-related injuries on the last day of 2021, just hours before the New Year revelry.
These total cases are 76 percent higher than in 2020 but are 66 percent lower than the five-year average of 89 cases from 2016 to 2020.
Meanwhile, 25 of these new cases were due to illegal fireworks, with the illegal firecracker “boga” having the highest number of cases with nine.
The DOH added that 13 of the 30 cases were hand injuries, nine were accidents where the head was affected, eight were injuries to the eyes, five were to the legs and four were in the chest area.
There were no cases of fireworks ingestion, stray bullet injuries, or deaths reported yet.
The DOH is urging the public to instead join community fireworks displays instead of using their own.
“Wag nang dagdagan pa ang mga bilang ng kaso! Sumali na lang tayo sa community fireworks displays, ‘wag lang kalimutan ang mga safety guidelines,” the DOH said.
(Don’t increase the number of cases! Let’s just join the community fireworks displays, and don’t forget the safety guidelines.)
“O kung sa bahay lang tayo, magpatugtog na lang ng musika at ibang noise-makers,” it added.
(Or if we’re just at home, just play music and other noise-makers.)
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