(INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA)
CITY OF MALOLOS – Firecracker and fireworks – related injuries in Central Luzon rose to 40 as of Saturday, Dec. 30, which is significantly higher than the 17 cases recorded over the same period (Dec. 25 – 30) last year.
Most of the injuries this year were caused by use of the illegal and improvised firecracker “boga” and other prohibited fireworks products, Corazon Flores, Department of Health (DOH) Region Director, said in a report Saturday.
Most of the victims are ages 1 to 10. The oldest recorded victim is 52 years old.
All 40 cases involved males, Flores said.
Pampanga recorded the most number of injuries with 17, followed by Nueva Ecija (10) and Bulacan (6), the data also said.
Bulacan Medical Center Director Lito Trinidad urged parents to strictly supervise and monitor their children and avoid illegal firecrackers.
He likewise reminded the public not to pick up firecrackers that malfunctioned and left on the streets.