Fireworks-related injuries stand at 88, says DOH

A father rushes his daughter to a hospital after being hit with a stray bullet following the raucous celebration to welcome the New Year Wednesday (January 1, 2014) in Manila. The sheer recalcitrance of traders, among others, contributed to the shocking rise in the number of fireworks-related New Year’s Eve injuries this year, which reached 933 cases on Friday, health authorities said. (AP file photo/BULLIT MARQUEZ)

MANILA, Philippines — Department of Health (DOH) has documented 13 new cases of fireworks-related injuries (FWRI) between 6 a.m. on December 27 and 5:59 a.m. on December 28.

This brings the total number to 88 three days before New Year’s Eve.

“FWRI Report #7 (6:00 AM of Dec 27 to 5:59 AM of Dec 28) revealed thirteen (13) new cases, ranging from 5 to 49 years old (median age: 18), mostly males (10),” it said in a statement.

“Twelve (12) of these new cases occurred at home and in the streets,” it added.

The geographic distribution of cases showed that three out of every ten cases come from National Capital Region (35 percent).

The record of frequency is followed by Central Luzon (12 percent).

Ilocos region is next (10, 11 percent), and then Bicol (6 percent), Davao (6 percent), and Soccsksargen (6 percent).

DOH emphasized that ninety-six percent of all FWRI incidents occurred at home and in the streets, involving mostly males.

“The top ranking identified fireworks that cause almost seven out of every ten (68%) FWRIs are Boga,* 5-Star,* Kwitis, Piccolo,* Pla-Pla,* Whistle Bomb, and Luces,” it said.

“Illegal fireworks (marked with an asterisk) are to blame for about six out of every ten cases (59%),” it pointed out.