By Brian Jules Campued
The Department of Health (DOH) announced on Thursday that the total number of fireworks related injuries have reached 585, including an additional two confirmed cases of stray bullet injuries.
In its bulletin, the DOH said a 28-year old man from the National Capital Region was hit by a stray bullet in the second toe of his left foot.
“The other case of stray bullet incident is a 60-year-old male from Cordillera Administrative Region who suffered a fracture in his left collar bone,” the health department continued.
The two stray bullet incidents were part of the 28 new cases of FWRI recorded from 6:00 a.m. of Jan. 3 to 5:59 a.m. of Jan. 4.
Of the new cases, which range from six to 62 years old, 88% or 23 were males while 96% or 25 incidents occurred either at home or in the streets.
Additionally, 13 cases were caused by legal firecrackers while nine injuries led to hospitalization.
Meanwhile, more than half of the total cases or 311 individuals came from NCR. followed by the Ilocos Region with 58, Calabarzon with 47, and Central Luzon which logged 42 injuries.
“Ninety-six percent (96%) happened at home and in the streets, mostly by males with active involvement,” according to the DOH report.
Notably, legal fireworks caused 365 more injuries, higher than illegal firecrackers which resulted in 220 cases.
The DOH listed Kwitis, 5-star, Whistle Bomb, Pla-pla, Boga, Luces, and Fountain that caused the majority of the FWRI. – avds