DOH logs another death due to fireworks; 4 more injured by stray bullets

By Brian Jules Campued

The number of fatalities due to fireworks rose to two after a previously recorded victim of FWRI died, the Department of Health (DOH) said Friday.

In its latest report, the DOH announced that the latest death was a 44-year old man from Ilocos Region, who was in the same blasting incident where the first death was recorded.

The first reported fatality was a 38-year old man who lit a cigarette while drinking in the vicinity of a firecracker storage. 

Additionally, four more confirmed cases of stray bullet injuries (SBIs) were recorded, bringing the total number of SBIs to seven.

Of the new confirmed SBIs, the first case was a 28-year old lady from Calabarzon who was hit by a stray bullet on her right arm while watching fireworks outside her house.

“The second and third are from the Ilocos Region: a 22/F who sustained a GSW near her left ear after their neighbor fired a gun near their home, and her 26 year old brother who sustained a GSW on his upper right back,” the DOH added. 

Meanwhile, the fourth SBI case, who was a 22-year old man from Northern Mindanao also suffered a gunshot wound on his right arm.

The health department also logged an additional 11 fireworks related injuries, 10 of which occurred at home and in the streets while seven were caused by illegal firecrackers.

“The 11 new FWRI cases range from 4 to 72 years old (median age: 29) with eight out of ten (9, 82%) cases being males,” the DOH continued.

The overall number of FWRIs stood at 592 including 53 victims currently being treated in hospitals.

According to the DOH, 96% of this number happened at home and in the streets, mostly by males with active involvement.

The DOH likewise noted that the cause of some 89 cases is unknown, while legal fireworks resulted in more injuries (367) compared to illegal fireworks (225).

The National Capital Region still recorded the highest number of injuries with 53% or 313 individuals.

It was followed by the Ilocos Region (61, 10%), Calabarzon (49, 8%), and Central Luzon (42, 7%). 

On the other hand, the Davao Region registered the lowest number of cases with two, followed by Eastern Visayas and Mimaropa (both three).

“Each and every life affected by fireworks and stray bullets is a reason to change the way we celebrate,” the DOH reminded the public. – avds