More than half of fireworks-related injuries caused by illegal fireworks —DOH

Despite their prohibition, illegal fireworks still figured in 56 percent of fireworks-related injuries recorded from December 21, 2017 to 6 a.m. of January 4, 2018, data from the Department of Health showed.

Three illegal fireworks made it to the list of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices that caused the most injuries in the same period, namely piccolo, 5-star, and boga.

The top culprit was piccolo, which accounted for 144 cases out of the total of 429 fireworks-related injuries sentinel hospitals have so far reported to the DOH, meaning one in three cases involved a piccolo.

Sixteen injuries were caused by a 5-star, while those caused by a boga made up 12 of the 429.

Other top fireworks involved in such injuries during the recent holiday season were kwitis (50 cases), luces (27), fountain (20), and whistle bomb (nine).

Unknown fireworks, meanwhile, made up 10 percent or 44 cases.

Lower than 5-year average

Meanwhile, the number of fireworks-related injuries recorded from December 21 to 6 a.m. of January 4, 2018 has climbed to 429, but is still lower than the average figure in the last five years, according to a data sheet from the DOH.

Twenty-three additional injuries were recorded since January 3, but the total number so far is 50 percent, or 437 cases, lower than the five-year average and 31 percent, or 196 cases, lower than the same period in the previous year.

No fireworks-related deaths, fireworks ingestion, and stray bullet injuries have been reported so far.

At 231 cases, more than half of the injuries recorded were from the National Capital Region (NCR), distantly trailed by Ilocos Region (Region 1) with 43 cases and by Calabarzon (Region 4-A)  with 42 cases.

In NCR, most of the injuries, or 110 cases, were recorded in the city of Manila.

Most of the injured were males, and though the age range was between 11 months old to 69 years old, the middle value was 13.

Meanwhile, hand injuries made it to the top of the list, amounting to 214 cases or half of the total number. The other half sustained eye, forearm/arm, head, legs, or thigh injuries.

In 18 cases, blast injuries resulted in amputation. — MDM, GMA News