DOH: Piccolo, blamed for 2,500 injuries in last 9 years, hurts 12-yr-old Abra boy

A nine-year-old boy from Abra welcomed Christmas Day with burns and a wound from a piccolo, a prohibited firecracker responsible for more than 2,500 injuries since 2008, making it the number one culprit in firecracker-related incidents in the last nine years.

The boy from Bangued said the firecracker exploded even before he could throw it away.

The boy, who has since developed a fear of firecrackers, said he purchased the piccolo from a nearby store.

Health authorities warned the public against buying and using piccolo and other prohibited firecrackers.

They warned the public that some piccolo firecrackers are even wrapped liked candies.

Symptoms from piccolo ingestion do not manifest until after several days.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) prohibits the use of the following:

• Piccolo
• Super Lolo
• Atomic Triangle
• Large Judas Belt
• Large Bawang
• Pillbox
• Bosa
• Goodbye Philippines
• Bin Laden
• Mother Rocket
• Lolo Thunder
• Coke in Can
• Pla-pla
• Giant Whistle Bomb
• Kabasi
• Watusi

— MDM, GMA News