DOH: Fireworks-related injuries now 55% higher than last year

A total of 291 fireworks-related injuries were registered from December 21, 2022 to January 5, 2023, which were 55% higher than the 188 cases during the same period last year, the Department of Health (DOH) said Thursday.

Based on the agency’s latest surveillance report, there were 14 more cases of fireworks-related injuries reported by sentinel hospitals days after the New Year revelry.

Of the 291 caseload—290 were injuries due to fireworks, and one was a case of a stray bullet injury.

The National Capital Region (NCR) still topped the list of regions with most recorded fireworks-related injuries at 136.

Western Visayas posted 33 fireworks-related injuries, Ilocos Region with 29, Central Luzon with 24, Calabarzon with 15, Bicol Region with 13, and Cagayan Valley with 10.

Eight cases came from Central Visayas, seven from Soccsksargen, four each from Mimaropa and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), three from Northern Mindanao, two from Davao Region, and one each from Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Bangsamoro Region.

Of the victims, 105 sustained injuries on the hand, 80 on the eye, 39 on the head, 37 on the legs, and 33 on the forearm or arm.

Eighteen of them had blast or burn injuries that required amputation. There are still no deaths recorded due to fireworks injuries.

The DOH also pointed out that majority or 162 of the cases occurred on the street, while 121 happened at home.

Forty-nine of the victims were allegedly intoxicated at the time of the accident.

Most of the victims or 231 of them were male aged one to 80.

The top fireworks involved were still kwitis, boga, 5-star, and fountain.

There were still no reports of fireworks ingestion, according to DOH.—AOL, GMA Integrated News