Firecracker injuries increase to 291, says DOH

Firecrackers. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday reported 14 more firecracker-related injuries, increasing the total to 291.

So far, the agency also noted, deaths due to fireworks remained at zero. It, however, earlier recorded an injury caused by a stray bullet in Metro Manila. The DOH explained that a stray bullet injury or SBI is a type of firework-related injury.

“These were 55 percent higher compared to 2021 (186 cases) but eight percent lower compared to the five-year average (313 cases) during the same time period,” it said in its latest surveillance report on firecracker-related injuries.

The breakdown of the 291 are:

• Metro Manila – 135
• Western Visayas – 33
• Ilocos Region – 29
• Central Luzon – 24
• Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) – 15
• Bicol Region – 13
• Cagayan Valley – 10
• Central Visayas – 8
• Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat) – 7
• Cordillera Administrative Region – 4
• Mimaropa (Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Romblon) – 4
• Northern Mindanao – 3
• Davao Region – 2
• Eastern Visayas – 1
• Zamboanga Peninsula – 1
• Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (Barmm) – 1

According to the DOH, 79 percent or 231 of those injured were male. It also said that 56 percent were injured while on the street and 42 percent were injured while inside their homes.

The DOH added that 17 percent were reportedly drunk when they got injured.

Further, the agency said the top five firecrackers that caused the injuries were kwitis (21 percent); boga (11 percent); five-star (8 percent); and fountain and unknown firecrackers (6 percent).

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