90% of firecracker victims last year are children —DOH

The Department of Health (DOH) said on Wednesday that 90 percent of the victims of firecracker-related injuries last year were males aged 13-years-old and below.

"Siyempre itong mga batang lalaki matatapang talaga, sila 'yung mahihilig magpaputok eh," DOH Undersecretary Eric Domingo said in Jun Veneracion's report on 24 Oras.

One of the young victims was the seven-year-old Julius who lost his right index finger after picking up a pla-pla firecracker which exploded on his hand.

Aside from experiencing difficulty in writing, Julius was also bullied in school for being an amputee.

The report said that Metro Manila had the highest number of firecracker-related injuries during the previous New Year celebrations, with 116 cases recorded in Manila City.

As a precautionary measure, the chairperson of Barangay 177 in Tondo, Manila started to give reminders to his constituents a few days ahead of New Year's Eve.

"Sa mga nagpapaputok po lalong lalo na sa mga magulang po, pagsabihan n'yo po ang mga anak n'yo na iwasan ang magpaputok," Barangay Chairman Edison Yu said.

"Alam niyo naman po ang mga kabataan ngayon sobrang titigas ng ulo. Unang-una, nagkukulang sa payo ng magulang... nadidisgrasya dahil sa kapabayaan din po ng magulang," he added.

Since December 21, the DOH has already recorded 24 cases of firecracker-related injuries nationwide.

All government hospitals are on code white alert status as the New Year's revelry nears.

Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center (JRRMMC) in Manila has already prepared its emergency room and equipment for immediate response to firecracker-related injuries. —Dona Magsino/ LDF, GMA News