As the country prepares to welcome 2022, the Department of Health (DOH) said 19 firework-related injuries have been reported as of Monday morning (Dec. 27).
In a briefing, the DOH said the current tally is 58% higher than the 12 cases reported in 2020, and 67% lower than the five-year average of 58 cases.
DOH USec. Maria Rosario Vergeire reported that 84% or 16 of the cases are caused by illegal fireworks such as Boga and Piccolo, while the rest were caused by permitted fireworks.
Around 37% or seven of the total cases are from Region 6. The DOH report showed that there has been no incident yet of firework ingestion, stray bullets, and death due to fireworks.
The DOH has advised the public to use safer alternatives such as using light and glow sticks and attending community fireworks displays.
“Pigilan natin ang aksidente at disgrasya dahil sa paputok sa pamamagitan ng pag-iwas ng paggamit nito at pagiging handa sa lahat ng puwedeng maging aksidente,” Vergeire said.
“Sa pamamagitan ng pag-iwas sa paggamit ng mga paputok at pyrotechnic device, maaari po nating ipagdiwang ang kasiyahan o holiday nang magkakasama habang iniiwasan ang unnecessary wastage ng mga resources ng ating pamilya,” she added.
The DOH also reminded the public to continue practicing minimum public health standards to prevent COVID-19 transmission this holiday season.
“Iwasan din muna ang paggamit ng torotot pito o iba pang laruan na ginagamitan ng bibig upang iwasan natin ang pagkakahawa-hawaan,” she said. – Report from Naomi Tiburcio/AG-rir
