NEW YEAR CELEBRATION. Families watch the fireworks display at the Quezon Memorial Circle on Dec. 31, 2022 as they welcome the New Year. The Department of Health on Tuesday (Jan. 3, 2023) reported 51 more injuries related to fireworks, bringing the overall tally to 262. (PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler)
MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday reported 51 more injuries related to fireworks, bringing the overall tally to 262 for Jan. 3.
“These were 42 percent higher compared to 2021 (185 cases) but 15 percent lower compared to the five-year average (308 cases) during the same period,” the DOH said in its latest case bulletin.
Of the 262 injuries, 145 cases occurred on the streets while 107 occurred at home.
A total of 75 sustained eye injuries while 16 cases were blast injuries that required amputation.
The National Capital Region logged the highest number with 126 cases.
Western Visayas also reported 31 cases; Ilocos Region, 23; Central Luzon, 22; Calabarzon, 13; and Bicol Region, 12.
The "kwitis," a skyrocket type of firework that is legal, was the most common cause of injury with 54 cases.
Meanwhile, the "boga," an improvised cannon, caused 30 injuries; the triangle-shaped firecracker 5-star, 21 injuries; and fountain fireworks, 16 injuries.
There were no reported cases of fireworks or firecracker ingestion or fireworks-related deaths. (PNA)
