By Brian Campued
The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday reported 25 fireworks-related injuries (FWRIs) recorded by 62 sentinel hospitals from Dec. 22 to 6:00 a.m. of Dec. 24.
In an advisory, the DOH said eight new cases were logged on Tuesday—lower than the 12 FWRIs registered during Christmas Eve of last year.
Of the 25 cases, 23 were males and two were females. Based on age brackets, 20 were 19 years old and below while five were over 20 years old.
The DOH, likewise, urged the public not to light firecrackers as well as pick up unexploded ones and to just use alternative noisemakers—such as playing loud music, blowing horns, or clamping pots—to ring in the New Year.
“Ilayo sa mga bata ang mga produktong may lason at pulbura gaya ng mga maliliit na paputok (watusi) dahil maaari nila itong maisubo,” the agency also reminded.
In the case of injuries, the DOH advised the public to contact the emergency hotline 911 and 1555.
“Disiplina ay kailangan para masaya at Ligtas Christmas sa Bagong Pilipinas!” the agency said.
-iro