DOH posts 17 new firecracker injuries; total at 142

Seventeen more cases of firecracker-related injuries were recorded nationwide which brought the caseload before the New Year 35% higher than last year, the Department of Health (DOH) said Sunday.

Based on DOH’s monitoring of 62 sentinel sites, the overall number of injuries due to fireworks starting December 22 up to 6 a.m. of December 29 has reached 142. This was an increase from the 105 cases logged during the same period in 2023.

Of the total cases so far this year, 104 (73%) were caused by illegal fireworks like boga, 5-star, and piccolo, and 85 (60%) were actively using them.

There were 115 of the victims who were teens aged 19 and below, while the rest were 20 years old and above.

Most of the cases were also male (127), and only 15 were female.

On Saturday, the DOH reported the first recorded firecracker casualty ahead of the New Year 2025 celebrations.

This involved a 78-year-old man from Central Luzon who died after a Judas belt firecracker he lit injured him on the eye and thigh.

The DOH has repeatedly warned the public about the dangers of using firecrackers this holiday season and encouraged watching community fireworks displays set up by professionals instead.

Those who get hurt due to firecrackers should immediately go to the nearest health center or call the emergency hotline 911 or the DOH emergency hotline 1555 for help. —Giselle Ombay/KG, GMA Integrated News