COTABATO CITY — Forty-three persons were hurt in firecracker-related incidents in Region 12, the regional health department reported Tuesday.
Jenny Ventura, focal person of the region’s Department of Health (DOH) “Iwas Paputok” program, said as of Tuesday (January 2), a total of 43 persons were injured by firecrackers despite massive information campaign against its use.
Ventura, however, said that the number is 10 percent lower as compared to the same period last year.
Monitoring started on Dec. 21 and will end Jan. 5.
South Cotabato has the highest number of firecracker victims during the period with 31 followed by North Cotabato with five, Sarangani with four, Gen. Santos City with two and Sultan Kudarat with one victim.
Ventura said that of the total number of victims, 39 were men and four were women. Of the number, 26 were children and 17 were adults.
She added that most of the victims sustained injuries inside their homes, 14 had it on the street and five in other areas.
Of the 43 victims, 29 were active users or they were the ones who set off the firecracker while 14 were passive or not involved but were nevertheless hit.
According to Ventura, the cases of eye injuries were limited to 12 victims which indicated that the firecracker exploded close to the victims’ faces.
One victim had an amputated toe due to serious injuries.
Ventura said 17 of the victims used legal firecrackers while 26 used the illegal ones like “kwitis,” “fountain,” “piccolo,” “5 star,” “boga,” and “triangle.”
Fourteen of the victims used “piccolo.” Thirty-two of the victims were sent home, one refused admission, four were admitted and six others were referred to bigger hospitals.
Dr. Frank Mateo, DOH-12 assistant regional director, said that this year’s victims were still lower compared to the same period last year with 50 firecracker victims. (PNA)
