New Year’s injuries climb to 730, 12 from stray bullets

MANILA, Philippines—Two days after the New Year celebrations, the number of fireworks-related injuries has climbed to 730 as of Saturday, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

But the figure is 276 cases, or 27 percent, lower than the number of cases reported during the same period in 2013.

As of 6 a.m. on Saturday, 714 of the 730 reported cases were direct firecracker injuries, 12 by stray bullets and four by firecracker ingestion, according to the firecracker injury registry update of the DOH.

The latest victim of firecracker ingestion was a 51-year-old man from Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, whose grandchild reportedly poured firecracker powder into his mouth while he was asleep.

Most of the cases (396) were from the National Capital Region, followed by the Ilocos region with 68 cases.

Thirty-four of the cases involved blast injuries that required amputation, while 125 were from eye injuries.

Majority of the cases involved males, 32 percent of whom were children 10 years old and below, the registry showed.

Most of the victims (62 percent) were active users, or were the ones directly involved in igniting the firecrackers.

Majority, or 75 cases (67 percent), were caused by the piccolo, according to the DOH firecracker injury registry, which started its monitoring of firework-related casualties on Dec. 21.

While the nationwide tally was lower compared to the same period in 2013, the DOH said it still found the trend unacceptable, especially in cases where injuries resulted in permanent consequences.

“Every life is important,” said acting Health Secretary Janette Garin in a statement. Tina G. Santos

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