DOH reports 7 hurt due to stray bullets
Seven stray bullet injuries (SBI) were reported by the Department of Health (DOH) on Friday, adding to the still-growing number of injuries related to the New Year revelries.
The DOH reported there were a total of 600 injuries during the holidays, about 592 of which were due to fireworks and one was due to ingestion of the locally manufactured firecracker “watusi.”
Among the new cases of SBIs involved a 28-year-old female from the Calabarzon region who reportedly sustained a gunshot wound in her right arm while watching fireworks outside her home.
Two of the new cases were from the Ilocos region. One involved a 22-year-old female who suffered a gunshot wound near her left ear after a neighbor fired a gun near her home. The other was her 26-year-old brother who sustained gunshot wound on his upper right back.
Another case of SBI happened in Northern Mindanao when a 22-year-old male sustained a gunshot wound to his right arm while celebrating with his family.
Assistant Health Secretary of Albert Domingo told the Inquirer it coordinated with the Philippine National Police In verifying reports of SBIs.
“The DOH discusses the details of the cases with the PNP to make sure [or] clarify that indeed it is due to Yuletide celebrations and not other reasons like legitimate police operations,” Domingo said.
READ: PNP confiscates over 3.6 worth of prohibited firecrackers
READ: Firecracker-related cases: Boy loses all 5 fingers to ‘Dart Bomb’
Fireworks related
Two new fatalities due to fireworks-related injuries (FWRI) involved two men, aged 44 and 38 years old, who were drinking near a firecracker storage in Ilocos region. One reportedly lit a cigarette that caused the firecrackers to explode.
The health department also reported 11 new FWRI cases on Friday, which ranged from four-to-72 years old, with nine of the cases being males. Ten of these new cases occurred at home and on the streets while the majority of seven cases were due to illegal fireworks.
The top ranking fireworks that caused majority of the 64 percent of 592 FWRIs were “kwitis,” “5-star,” “pla-pla,” whistle bomb, “luces,” “boga” and fountain.
