Man almost loses finger after firecracker powder explodes in hand

A 22-year-old man from Manila almost said goodbye to his index finger before the New Year after powder from a firecracker exploded in his hand, a report on GMA's “24 Oras” said on Tuesday.

“Ang sakit tapos nilalamig ako ng mga time na iyon,” said Joseph Gacula, who was holding the powder in his right hand.

He was brought to the Jose R. Reyes Medical Center where doctors managed to save his index finger by inserting three pieces of metal into it.

“Natutunan ko po na kung may nakita mang paputok huwag na pong tangkaing hawakan o subukan kasi sobrang sakit, mahirap at tsaka magastos pa. At tsaka 'yung kinabukasan nasisira kasi ngayon mahihirapan na ako magsulat,” he said.

Gacula is only one of the 15 victims of firecracker-related injuries brought to the JRRMC since Sunday.

The Health Department has recorded 162 cases of firecracker-related injuries in the whole country so far, 113 cases lower than the record last year.

Still, it encourages the public to avoid using firecracker to celebrate the New Year and find other safer means of joining the festivities. — Andrei Medina/BM, GMA News