DOH: Fireworks-related injuries rise to 107

The Department of Health (DOH) recorded 11 new cases of fireworks-related injuries on Saturday bringing the total to 107. 

The DOH said that of the 11 reported new cases, six involved illegal fireworks, including boga, five star, piccolo, Pla-pla and whistle bomb.

The victims are aged 6 to 72 years.

The latest DOH report also stated that of the total cases, 97% of the incidents occurred at home or nearby streets and that 63.59% of the cases involved illegal firecrackers.

“Ang mga pinsalang nauugnay sa paputok ay nangyayari sa bahay o kalapit nito, kadalasang kinasasangkutan ng mga batang lalaki, ngunit nakakaapekto rin sa mga passive na nanonood lamang sa anumang edad o kasarian,” said the DOH report.

(Fireworks-related injuries occur at home or near it. Most of the victims are boys. It also affects those who are passively watching regardless of age or gender.)

Among the 11 new cases is a 19-year-old from Cagayan who had to be amputated after using the illegal firecracker Pla-pla.

There's also a 72-year-old from the National Capital Region (NCR) who got burned after being hit by kwitis.

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa on Saturday inspected the emergency rooms of some hospitals in NCR to ensure their preparedness as the country welcomes the New Year, according to a ''24 Oras Weekend'' report by JP Soriano.

Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center in Santa Cruz, Manila, has so far reported around 10 firecracker-related injuries; most of them were passive victims.

Tondo Medical Center did not record any fire-cracker related injury on Saturday, but the number of victims of stabbing went up.

"Kapag tumataas pala ang inuman, nagdoble from 19% to 33% 'yung kanilang cases of stab wound and gunshot wound," Herbosa said.

(As drinking incidents increased, cases of stab wounds and gunshot wounds rose from 19% to 33%.)

East Avenue Medical Center has so far not reported any victim of firecrackers, but doctors were prepared ahead of the New Year's Eve celebration.

The DOH reminded the public that even legal firecrackers could injure persons.

"Kuwitis is legal, pero ang nangyayari sa kuwitis, it's supposed to be aerial. 'Yung sa case natin kahapon sinindihan sa loob ng bahay, may tinamaan na nanonood. Puwedeng legal, pero hindi mo ginamit nang tama," Herbosa said.

(Kuwitis is legal, but it's supposed to be aerial. We had a case yesterday where a person set it off inside the house, hitting someone who was watching. It could be legal, but a person did not use it correctly.)

The DOH reiterated its call for the public to refrain from engaging in or using firecrackers at home and opt for community fireworks displays at a safe distance.  —Jiselle Anne C. Casucian and Jamil Santos/ VAL/VBL, GMA Integrated News