MANILA -- The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday reported 11 more fireworks-related injuries (FWRIs) in Calabarzon, Bicol Region, Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula and the National Capital Region (NCR).
The FWRIs were recorded by sentinel hospitals from 6 a.m. on Tuesday until 5:59 a.m., December 26. Four cases were from NCR, three from Western Visayas, and one each from Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), Bicol Region, Central Visayas and Zamboanga Peninsula.
The cases involved males aged between two and 49 years and who used fireworks banned by the government. Five suffered from burns without amputation, were given antibiotics, and were sent home after the treatment.
Two persons were also injured from blast and needed to be amputated while four others suffered from eye injuries.
Meanwhile, a six-year-old boy in Tondo, Manila ingested on Tuesday the contents of a "pili" firecracker which possibly contains potassium chloride and potassium nitrate. He showed signs of mild toxicity. He was treated and is still admitted at the Philippine General Hospital.
The DOH said the recorded FWRIs, starting December 21, are 54 percent lower compared to the same period last year, and 52 percent lower than the five-year average.
Since then, seven FWRIs were recorded in the NCR, three in Central Luzon, five in Western Visayas, four in Central Visayas, two in Zamboanga Peninsula, one from Calabarzon, one from Bicol Region and one in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Four were admitted in hospitals.
Under Executive Order No. 28, the use of firecrackers shall be confined to community fireworks display to minimize the risk of injuries and casualties.
The DOH 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. (PNA)
