Firecracker-related injuries higher in 2014–DOH

A boy injured by a firecracker weeps at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center in Manila early on January 1, 2014, after New Year’s celebrations. An 11-year-old boy was killed while his playmate lost both hands and injured an eye after setting a pile of “dud” firecrackers on fire in Quezon City two days after the New Year’s Eve revelry, police said. AFP PHOTO/NOEL CELIS

MANILA, Philippines—Compared to last year, cases of revelry-related injuries are higher by five-percent in 2014 as the latest count shot up to 962 on Saturday, a health official said.

Department of Health Assistant Secretary Dr. Eric Tayag announced on Twitter that as of 6 a.m., the number of injured has risen to 962, higher than the 929 recorded in 2013.

Of the 962, Tayag said 943 were caused by firecrackers, while victims of firecracker ingestion remained at two.

Contrary to the Philippine National Police’s latest report of 31 stray bullet victims, the Health department recorded 17 casualties.

As of Friday, PNP said two children have died due to gunshot wounds from stray bullets, including three-month-old Von Alexander Llagas from Caoayan town, Ilocos Sur and two-year-old Rhanz Angelo Corpuz from San Nicolas town, Ilocos Norte.

Based on the records of DOH, 359 or 38 percent of the total were caused by the banned firecracker, Piccolo.

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