Health Secretary Francisco Duque III INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
About 191 firecracker-related injuries were recorded by the Department of Health(DOH) since December 21, 2017, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III announced on Monday.
In a press conference at the East Avenue Medical Center, Duque said the 191 firecracker-related injuries were recorded from Dec. 21, 2017, to Jan. 1, 2018.
The total cases recorded during this period was 68 percent lower compared to the same period in the previous year.
“We are relatively pleased, relative because there are still injuries, but pleased because of the substantial reduction or decrease in fireworks-related injuries,” he said.
It’s the biggest reduction recorded so far, the health chief added.
Duque said there were no reported deaths and fireworks ingestion and there were only seven cases of blast injuries that required amputations.
Metro Manila had the most number of fireworks-related injuries, which amounted to 115 cases or 60 percent of the total number, followed by Western Visayas with 15 cases and Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Bicol with 13 cases each.
About 384 firecracker-related injuries were recorded from Dec. 21, 2015, to Jan. 1, 2016, by the DOH.
READ: Oops! Firecracker injuries on the rise
The City of Manila had the most number of cases at 63 followed by Quezon City with 14, Pasig City with 11 and Valenzuela with six cases.
The banned firecracker “piccolo” remains the top fireworks-causing injuries, Duque said.
He said the youngest victim of firecrackers during the monitoring period was an 11-month-old baby and the oldest was 96 years old.
Meanwhile, Supt. Johnny Capalos of the Philippine National Police PNP, said during the same press conference that the PNP recorded only one case of stray bullet injury.
“Overall, the government’s campaign against fireworks has reduced the number of injuries. The DOH is grateful for the strong cooperation of our local government units and other government agencies for this success,” Duque said.
He added that Executive Order No. 28, which regulates the use of fireworks and firecrackers, “truly reinforced” efforts of the DOH and other agencies in reducing the number of injuries during the holiday revelries. /jpv