DOH: Most firecracker victims are children

On Sunday, only hours before 2017 ends, 86 firecracker-related injuries have been reported, and most of the victims were children, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III issued a statement late Sunday afternoon urging parents to strictly watch over their children and keep them away from firecrackers and fireworks

Duque said a total of 86 victims were reported from Dec. 21 to 31 – of whom 70, or 81 percent, were aged less than 15 years old.

“Injuries due to firecrackers are preventable if only elders will be extra vigilant in keeping a watchful eye on their children,” Duque said. “Let us all do our share in reducing injuries, especially to children. Injuries due to fireworks can be prevented.”

Piccolo, with 54 victims, and boga, with seven victims, remained the top causes of firecracker-related injuries as of Sunday afternoon, Duque said.

These were followed by kwitis, with 5 victims, and whistlebomb, with 3 victims.

Most injuries were reported in the National Capital Region (NCR), with 44 victims, followed by Western Visayas with 11 cases, Bicol with nine, and Central Visayas with six.

In the NCR, most cases were in Manila with 25 victims, while Mandaluyong, Quezon City, and Valenzuela had four cases each, he said.

Most of the cases involved injuries that did not require amputation, 14 eye injuries, and four injuries that required amputation/

As of this post, there were no reported deaths, no cases of fireworks ingestion, and no stray bullet injuries. /atm