By Brian Jules Campued
The Department of Health (DOH) warned the public anew that “guns, liquor, and fireworks should never mix” after a man reportedly died due to firecrackers in Ilocos Region a day after the New Year’s celebrations.
According to the Health department, a 38-year old man “lit a cigarette while drinking with others near firecrackers in storage”.
As of 5:59 a.m. of Jan. 2, the DOH recorded 212 new cases of fireworks related injuries.
It also logged the first confirmed stray bullet injury (SBI).
“The SBI case is a 23-year-old from Davao Region who had a gunshot wound to his left upper back,” the DOH noted in its latest report.
Additionally, six new amputation cases were also recorded, reaching a total of 17.
The DOH also reported 122 cases with eye injuries, including one victim who went blind, while another individual suffered from hearing loss.
Of this, 166 or 79% are male while 206 or 97% occurred at home and in the streets.
Nearly half (102 or 49%) of the new FWRIs were due to legal fireworks while less than half (94 or 45%) consisted of victims with active involvement.
The number of injuries tallied to 443, including one due to ingestion of “Watusi” and the other caused by a stray bullet.
More than half of the total number of cases came from the National Capital Region which logged 254. It was followed by the Ilocos Region with 36, Central Luzon with 35, and Calabarzon with 29 FWRIs.
A mix of legal and illegal fireworks caused the injuries that included Kwitis, 5-star, Boga, Pla-pla, and Whistle Bomb, among others.
The DOH reminded the public to avoid injuries and deaths from stray bullets and accidents due to intoxication. – cf
