MANILA --The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday reported one case of amputation after recording nine firecracker-related injuries in its surveillance system during the Christmas revelry.
"A blast injury with amputation due to Boga, an improvised noisemaker was reported," the DOH report said.
Based on DOH latest Aksyon Paputok Injury Reduction 2017 Surveillance Report for 6 a.m. of December 24 to 6 a.m. of December 25, there are nine recorded injuries.
This brings the total to 14 since the monitoring began last December 21.
The latest victim of fireworks-related injury (FWI), who now faces the consequence of amputation, is a 29-year-old male from Basista, Pangasinan. He was admitted at Region 1 Medical Center.
Two of his right hand's fingers were almost mangled by the firecracker.
Meanwhile, the DOH said the current total of 15 cases -- on the fourth day of surveillance -- is still lower compared to the previous FWIs it had seen in its five-year period monitoring.
This is 37 or 73 percent lower than the five-year (2012-2016) average and 22 or 61 percent lower than same time period last year.
The report added that majority of the cases happened in the National Capital Region with nine of the 14 cases.
So far no deaths and fireworks ingestions were recorded.
Every year, the surveillance is being conducted to make a comparative analysis in terms of the effectiveness of campaign to create awareness on the dangers of using firecrackers so that public will instead support community fireworks display and prevent injuries that can lead to painful consequences of disabilities/deformities that can result from using firecrackers or becoming passive victims of firecrackers.
The DOH earlier conducted hospital visits to monitor the preparedness of hospitals in responding to health emergencies, including firecracker-related injuries. (PNA)
