Fireworks and sparklers are on display at a shop in Bocaue, Bulacan, ahead of the New Year celebrations. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Four more people were injured due to fireworks a week before the New Year celebrations, the Department of Health (DOH) said Sunday.
The latest cases brought to 12 the total number of firecrackers-related injuries so far, it added. Most of the cases involved children.
From 6:00 a.m. on December 23 to 5:59 a.m. on December 24, the DOH listed four fireworks injuries – two minors and two adults.
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The first two were aged 11 and 17. Their injuries were from the banned piccolo and boga.
The other two were an adult male and female aged 23 and 49, respectively. Both used kwitis, a legal firecracker.
READ: Gov’t urged to reconsider planned total ban on firecrackers
“Ang mga paputok kapag sinindihan sa bahay ay maaaring makapinsala kahit sa mga matatanda,” the DOH warned.
(Fireworks lit at home can harm even the adults.)
READ: Fireworks-related injuries lower in last 10 years — PNP
The DOH once again urged local government units and barangay officials to opt for community firecrackers displays to discourage the public from buying and lighting their own fireworks.