DOH logs 14 more fireworks-related injuries, total now at 167

The Philippines recorded 14 additional firecracker-related injuries, bringing the total to 167, the Department of Health (DOH) reported on Monday.

The DOH said the total number of firecracker-related injuries as of 6 a.m., January 3, 2022, was 39% higher than the 120 cases in 2020.

However, this was 59% lower compared to the five-year average during the same period with 403 cases.

The DOH said that of the 167 cases, 65 or 39% were from Metro Manila.

Meanwhile, 25 were from Region I; 23 from Region VI; 13 from Region III; seven from Region V; six each from Calabarzon, Region VII, and BARMM; five each from Region II and Region XII, three from CAR; two from Region XI; and one from Region IX.

Of these cases, 120 or 72% were males.

In addition, 17 cases were blast or burn injuries requiring amputation, 110 cases did not require amputation, and 44 cases were eye injuries.

Four cases also sustained multiple types of injuries.

A total of 75 out of the 167 cases involved active users, the DOH also said.

The top five firecracker types involved were kwitis which had 37 cases, boga with 15 cases, luces with 13 cases, 5-star with 12 cases, while 25 cases involved unknown fireworks.

It is also indicated that boga and 5-star are prohibited types of firecrackers thus 50% of the cases were due to legal fireworks.

There were no reports of firework ingestions and stray bullet injuries.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday, however, said there were at least 18 cases of illegal discharge of firearms recorded from December 16, 2021 to January 2, 2022.

There were also alleged stray bullet incidents in the Ilocos, Calabarzon, Northern Mindanao, and Cordillera Regions, PNP added.—AOL, GMA News