THE Department of Health yesterday recorded 51 more fireworks-related injuries, bringing the total 262 as of 6 a.m. of January 3.
The DOH said the number is 42 percent higher compared to 2021 which has 185 cases.
The firecrackers that caused most of the injuries were “kwitis” with 54, “boga” with 30, “5-star” with 21, and unknown fireworks with 17.
Hand injuries were the most common cases with 92, followed by injuries in the eyes with 75, legs with 35, and head with 34.
Of the 262 injuries, 133 involved active cases or those who actually used firecrackers.
The DOH also reported that 45 of those injured by firecrackers were found to be intoxicated at the time of the incident.
Also, 145 injuries occurred in the streets while 107 others happened at home.
Of the regions, the National Capital Region or Metro Manila had the most cases with 127 followed by Western Visayas with 31, Ilocos Region with 23; and Central Luzon with 22.
There remains no reported case of fireworks ingestion, said the DOH.
The DOH also recorded the first case of stray bullet injury stemming from the New Year revelry. The victims is a 64-year-old female from Manila, who was hit by a stray bullet while she was walking to her brother-in-law’s place of residence at around 3 a.m. on January 1.
“The case was immediately rushed to Philippine General Hospital for assessment and medical management,” said the DOH.
It said the PNP initially received a report of the incident as a gunshot wound incident on the same day.
The Rizal PNP said it destroyed P130,000 worth of confiscated assorted prohibited firecrackers.
Col. Dominic Baccay, Rizal PNP provincial director, also said 10 individuals selling prohibited fireworks were arrested.
He also said six persons were injured by firecrackers in Rizal province, which is fewer compared to the 14 the year before.
There was no reported case of indiscriminate firing of guns, he added. — With Christian Oineza
