THE number of reported firecracker-related injuries nearly doubled in just 24 hours, according to the Department of Health.
Based on the DOH Fireworks-Related Injury Surveillance report, 153 injuries were recorded nationwide from Dec. 21, 2021 to 6 a.m. yesterday, almost double the 85 firecracker injuries related to the New Year’s celebrations reported as of 6 a.m. of January 1.
The number is also 32 percent higher compared to the same period in 2020-2021, with 116 cases.
The DOH said all injuries were caused by firecrackers and fireworks, 80 of which were from illegal fireworks.
“Kwitis” caused the most injuries at 35, followed by different unknown kinds of firecrackers at 24, “boga” at 15, “luces” at 12, and “triangle” at 10.
The report showed that 16 cases (10%) had blast/burn injury requiring amputation, 102 cases (67%) had blast/burn injury not requiring amputation, and 39 cases (25 %) had eye injuries.
Hand injuries were the most common ones with 51 cases, followed by eyes with 40 and head with 22 cases.
The DOH said 70 cases (46%) were found to be active users of firecrackers, while 83 cases (54%) were passive users.
The report also showed 85 cases (56%) occurred at home, 66 cases (43%) cases occurred in the streets, 1 case (4%) at a workplace, and 1 (4%) at a basketball court.
Most of the cases (60) occurred in National Capital Region, followed by Western Visayas (22), and Ilocos Region (22).
The DOH said there were still no reports of cases of fireworks ingestion, stray bullet injury, or death.
