DOH6: Firecracker-related injuries up this year

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The number of firecracker-related injuries increased this year, the Department of Health (DOH) in Region 6 noted as it tallied 72 injuries as of 6 a.m. Thursday, January 2, 2014 from December 21, 2013.

During the same period last year, only 67 injuries were recorded.

Based on DOH’s surveillance update, 19 of the firecracker-related injuries came from Iloilo province, 18 from Iloilo City, 18 from Bacolod City, 16 from Negros Occidental province, and one from Capiz.

Comprising 49 percent of the total victims were children below 10 years old while 28 percent were between ages 11 to 20 years old; 14 percent aged 31-50; six percent between ages 21-30; and the rest were 51 years old and above.

The youngest victim was a one-year-old child from Talisay City, Negros Occidental while the eldest was 65 years old from Badiangan, Iloilo.

The victims suffered avulsed wounds, blast injury, eye injury, burns and abrasions.

Unknown firecrackers topped the list of firecrackers that caused injuries, followed by home-made firecrackers, boga, triangle, candle bomb, and piccolo.

No report of firecracker-related incidents has been received yet from the provinces of Antique and Guimaras, Convocar said.

The DOH will continue monitoring firecracker victims until January 5, 2014.

The DOH recommends total ban on the individual or household use of firecrackers, selective ban on fireworks, and community-based display of fireworks.

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