DOH: Fireworks-related injuries reach 176

As of Wednesday morning, the Department of Health (DOH) has tallied 176 cases of fireworks-related incidents, plus its first case of stray bullet victim.

“Piccolo” retained its ranking as the leading cause of fireworks-related injuries across the country, injuring 122 people (69 percent), the DOH said.

The Dec. 31 DOH-National Epidemiology Center Fireworks Injury Registry said the tally of 176 cases as of 6 a.m. was 74 cases or 30 percent lower than the five-year average recorded in 2009-2013, and 125 cases or 42 percent lower compared to the same day last year.

The annual injury registry, which was started on Dec. 21 to officially collect data on fireworks-related incidents gathered from 50 DOH-affiliated and -accredited sentinel health facilities and institutions nationwide, showed the 176 figure is as follows: 173 direct fireworks injuries, two cases of fireworks ingestion, and one case of stray bullet.

There were no fatalities so far, based on the DOH registry.

The DOH-NEC registry classifies “firework-related injuries” into direct firework injuries, firework ingestion, and stray bullet injuries.

The Dec. 31 registry said the leading regions where most of the fireworks-related incidents occurred were Metro Manila with 81 cases, Region 10 with 13 cases, Region 11 with 12 cases, and Regions 2, 5, 6, and 7 with nine cases each.

Stray bullet

The first stray bullet case involved a 24-year-old male from Quezon City who was hit by the bullet on his right hand while walking.

The unidentified victim went to the Manila Central University – Filemon D. Tanchoco Medical Foundation in Caloocan City for treatment, but refused to be confined, the DOH said.

Victims

Of the 173 cases of direct fireworks injuries, 150 cases (87 percent) involved male victims aged 3-68 years old, with a median age of 11 years old.

Children below 10 years old accounted for 57 cases (35 percent) of the 173 cases, while 133 cases (77 percent) were “active users” of the ones who ignited the firecrackers.

Of the total 176 incidents, 136 cases sustained blast injuries without amputation, six incidents with amputation, and 33 cases with eye injuries. There was one case of stray bullet incident.

Piccolo

With “Piccolo” still topping the list, the other three firecrackers included on the list of the most injurious were “Boga” with seven cases, “Five Star” with six cases, and “Camara” with five cases.

Of the total 176 cases, Manila cornered the highest number of incidents with 31 cases, followed by Pasig City with 13 cases, Quezon City has 12 cases, and Mandaluyong has four.

On Monday, the DOH focused its attention to “Piccolo,” describing it a small firecracker that comes in attractive packaging with a cartoon character.

“Due to its size and packaging, children could easily mistake it for candy,” the DOH said.

“Piccolo is very poisonous because it contains the substance yellow phosphorus. The estimated human lethal dose (of yellow phosphorus) is 50-100 milligrams,” it added. —KBK, GMA News