By Ma. Teresa Montemayor/PNA
MANILA — The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday reported 98 more fireworks-related injuries (FWRIs) in various regions of the country, which were recorded by 60 sentinel hospitals from 6 a.m. of January 1 until 5:59 a.m. of January 2.
A total of 35 cases were recorded in the National Capital Region; 22 in the Ilocos region; 13 in Western Visayas; six in Central Visayas; five in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon); four in Central Luzon; three cases each in the Bicol region and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao; two each in Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) and Central Visayas; and one each in Cagayan Valley, Northern Mindanao, and Zamboanga Peninsula.
The victims of FWRI cases mostly involved males aged between two and 75 years.
Since it began its surveillance on December 21, the DOH has recorded a total of 234 FWRIs and two cases of fireworks ingestion.
Of the total, 127 occurred on the streets; 100 took place at home; seven in other places; and two in fireworks designated areas.
A total of 180 persons suffered from blasts or burns without amputation, while eight suffered from blasts resulting in amputation. The remaining 61 persons suffered from eye injuries.
The DOH said the current FWRI statistics is 52 percent less than in the same period last year and 71 percent lower than the five-year average.
The fireworks that caused the most injuries were the Kwitis with 55 cases; Luces with 20; Piccolo with 19; Boga with 18 cases; Five Star with 14 cases; and Triangle with seven cases.
Executive Order No. 28, issued by President Rodrigo Duterte, has confined the use of firecrackers to community fireworks display areas to minimize the risk of injuries and casualties.
The DOH has also warned the public against illegal fireworks, such as Watusi, Piccolo, Atomic Triangle, large Judas Belt, large Bawang, Pillbox, Boga, Goodbye Philippines, Bin Laden, Mother Rockets, Lolo Thunder, Coke-in-can, Kwitom, Atomic Bomb, Five Star, Pla-pla, giant Whistle Bomb, Kabasi, and other unlabeled and imported firecrackers.
Among the banned fireworks, Boga caused the highest number of injuries, followed by Kwitis, Piccolo, Triangle, Baby Rocket, Bawang, Camara, and Luces.
