Man loses 3 fingers to firecracker in General Santos City

A 24-year-old man in General Santos City lost three fingers on Christmas Day after a firecracker he was holding exploded.

According to Jonathan Andal’s Sunday report on “24 Oras Weekend,” a viral video captured the man gripping what appeared to be a whistle-bomb firecracker before it detonated in his hand.

Bystanders initially enjoying the festivities panicked as the man’s hand bled profusely and he writhed in pain.

The victim, who has since been discharged from the hospital, was reportedly under the influence of alcohol.

“The victim was under the influence of liquor kasi so makikita natin parang ang tapang niya,” said Police Major Rissa Hernaez of the Police Regional Office 12 Public Information Office.

(The victim was under the influence of liquor, so he appeared to act recklessly.)

Firecracker safety warnings were reiterated by health officials. “Fireworks are bombs. They are explosives and should never be handled,” said Department of Health (DOH) spokesperson Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo.

The whistle bomb involved in the incident was allegedly purchased online from a store based in Bulacan and given to the victim by a friend. Hernaez highlighted the challenges in regulating online firecracker sales, despite ongoing inspections.

The DOH noted that online sales have contributed to an increase in firecracker-related injuries. As of Sunday, the DOH reported 142 cases of such injuries, with one fatality.

DOH data identified the following firecrackers as the top causes of injuries:

•  Boga (illegal)
•  Five Star (illegal)
•  Piccolo (illegal)
•  Kwitis (legal)
•  Unknown (homemade or unidentified)

Most victims are male, with nine out of ten cases involving males, and the majority are aged 5 to 14 years old.

In Antipolo, police confiscated nearly 500 boga (improvised cannons) and other prohibited firecrackers like piccolo from children.

“Karamihan kasi sa mga nare-recover po natin nagyon, yung mga kabataan, pag nagkakahabulan, iniiwan na nila yung kanilang mga boga,” said Police Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Manongdo, chief of the Antipolo Police.

(Most of the time, children abandon their bogas once the police arrive.)

In Central Luzon, DOH Region 3 reported that boga is the leading cause of injuries among children.

“Pinakabata na naitala namin ay six years old, Boga ang kanyang nilaro. Nangyayari sinisilip nila dahil naiinip sila na hindi pa pumuputok. Nagkakaroon sila ng burns sa mukha, yung iba sa mata,” said Lailano Mangulaban, officer-in-charge of Central Luzon Center for Health Development.

(The youngest case we recorded was a six-year-old. He played with a boga, and out of impatience, peeked into the device before it exploded, causing burns to his face and eyes.) — Mariel Celine Serquiña/DVM, GMA Integrated News