DOH reports another fireworks fatality,15 hurt

DOH logo and fireworks background. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday reported that a second individual died due to fireworks as it recorded 15 additional cases of fireworks-related injuries (FWRI).

Of the 15, four were hurt because of stray bullets, the agency noted.

“Today, the DOH reports 15 new cases. There are four more confirmed stray bullet injuries, plus 11 fireworks-related injuries. One previously recorded injury from Ilocos Region has also expired,” it said in an advisory.

The DOH said the deceased was a 44-year-old man who was involved in the same incident as the first fireworks-related fatality, who lit a cigarette while drinking near stored fireworks.

“There are now 600 injuries overall, with 592 due to fireworks, one due to Watusi ingestion, and 7 SBls (stray bullet injury), two have died, [and] 53 are currently in [the] hospital for treatment,” it added.

READ: PNP: 1 dead, 1 hurt due to stray bullets on New Year’s eve

The health department further noted that more than half of the total cases were logged in Metro Manila or the National Capital Region (313). Other areas with considerable counts of FWRIs are the Ilocos Region (61), Calabarzon or Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon (49), and Central Luzon (42).

Ahead of the 2024 New Year revelry, the DOH raised the “code white” alert in the country’s healthcare system. Under code white, hospitals are expected to boost staff deployment and supplies in emergency rooms.

Code white is the lowest of the three alert levels for emergencies and disasters. The higher levels are code blue and code red, which are declared when the country’s healthcare system is put under immense strain, resulting in damage to facilities, a lack of capability to respond, and increased fatalities.

Code white was in effect from Dec. 20 until Thursday, Jan. 4.

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