Firecracker-related injuries in Region 1 climbed to 29 after a surge of patients were rushed to the Region 1 Medical Center (R1MC) during New Year celebrations, hospital officials said.

R1MC said 18 new cases were recorded from New Year’s Eve until early morning of January 1, adding to the 11 cases recorded earlier.

Dr. Maria Camila Rosario, head of the hospital’s Emergency and Disaster Management Unit, said the hospital activated emergency measures to handle the sudden influx of patients.

“Nagamit ang emergency lane natin dito sa ospital and mostly naman, na-cater lahat. ‘Yun lang dagsaan ‘yung mga pasyente kasi nga biglang sabay-sabay na nagdatingan ‘yung mga pasyente,” Rosario said.

Hospital data showed that the youngest patient this year was three years old, while the oldest was 45. Most patients came from Dagupan City with 10 patients, followed by Mangaldan, San Fabian, and San Carlos City with four cases each. Binmaley, Sto. Tomas, and Alaminos City logged two cases each, while one patient came from Bani.

Of the total, 20 were classified as passive victims or those who were just passing by when firecrackers exploded nearby. The remaining nine were active users of firecrackers. R1MC also confirmed that two patients had to undergo amputation due to the severity of their injuries.

Rosario urged the public to be more cautious, especially around other people.

“Sana yung mga nagpapaputok, tingnan nilang mabuti na walang tao sa paligid kasi yung mga dumadaan lang, sila yung nabibiktima,” she said.

Health authorities remain under Code White status until January 6 as they continue monitoring cases under Oplan Iwas Paputok.