DOH: 119 injured due to firecrackers, indiscriminate firing since Dec 21

MANILA, Philippines - Injuries resulting of firework-related activities and indiscriminate firing have reached 119 since December 21, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Monday. A GMA News Flash Report quoted DOH National Epidemiology Center head Dr. Eric Tayag as saying that out of the 119 people injured, 115 were victims of firework or firecracker mishaps, three suffered from gunshot wounds due to indsicriminate firing, and one accidentally swallowed dancing firecrackers ("watusi"). Tayag noted that half of those injured were children aged below 10 years old. The official noted that the figure is lower than the number of wounded during the same period last year, which he said amounted to 140. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, for his part, warned the public against using firecrackers to celebrate the New Year, regardless of whether they are legal or illegal. "Ang dapat isipin natin itong mga paputok, kay maliit o malaki, kay legal o ilegal, lahat nakakapinsala (We must keep in mind that firecrackers, no matter how small or big, or whether they are legal or illegal, causes harm)," Duque said in an interview over radio dzBB. Instead of celebrating the New Year with firecrackers, Duque advised the public to just use blow-horns and vehicles' horns to make noise. Duque added that he will visit eight hospitals in Metro Manila on Christmas Eve to ensure that hospitals are well-equipped to address accidents. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV