DOH records 51 more fireworks-related injuries, 1 stray bullet victim

The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday reported 51 additional cases of fireworks-related injuries and a case of stray bullet incident.

Based on the agency’s latest surveillance report, a total of 262 injuries due to fireworks were already recorded from December 21, 2022 to January 2, 2023. These were 42% higher than the 185 cases logged in 2021, but 15% lower compared to the five-year average of 308 cases during the same period.

The National Capital Region (NCR) remained to be the region recording the most number of fireworks-related injuries at 125.

Next was Western Visayas with 31, Ilocos Region with 23, Central Luzon with 22, Calabarzon with 13, and Bicol Region with 12.

Eight cases were from Cagayan Valley, seven in Central Visayas, six in Soccsksargen, four Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), three in Mimaropa, two each in Northern Mindanao and Davao Region, and one each in Eastern Visayas and Zamboanga Peninsula.

Of the victims, 92 sustained injuries on the hand, 75 on the eye, 35 on the legs, 34 on the head, and 31 on the forearm or arm.

Sixteen of them also had blast or burn injuries that required amputation. None of them reportedly died due to the incident.

The DOH said 145 of the injuries occurred on the street, while 107 happened at home.

There were 45 of the victims who were also allegedly intoxicated at the time of the accident.

Most of the victims or 208 of them were male aged one to 80.

The top fireworks involved were kwitis, boga, 5-star, and fountain. Of these, boga and 5-star were considered as illegal fireworks, causing injuries to 30 and 21 people, respectively.

The DOH said there were still no reports of fireworks ingestion.

Stray bullet

Further, the DOH noted in its report that the Philippine National Police (PNP) received information that a gunshot wound incident occurred on January 1, 2023 at around 3:22 a.m.

It involved a 64-year-old woman from Manila who was hit by a stray bullet while she was walking to her brother-in-law’s residence.

She was then rushed to the Philippine General Hospital to receive treatment.

The Police Regional Office (PRO) Cordillera earlier said two individuals were reportedly wounded in Abra after being hit by a stray bullet during the New Year revelry.

Meanwhile, PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said a total of three incidents of indiscriminate firing were recorded during the New Year festivities.

Despite reports of stray bullet incidents and illegal firecrackers, the PNP said the celebration of the New Year was “generally and relatively peaceful.” —KG, GMA Integrated News