The Department of Health 7 recorded a four percent drop in the number of fireworks-related injuries in Central Visayas in this year's Christmas revelries, compared to the same period last year.

The Health Emergency Management Staff of the DOH 7 Aksyon Paputok Injury Reduction said there were 22 cases this year than last year's 23 incidents. Of the 22 cases, 20 were in Cebu, and two were in Negros Oriental, a government press release said.

Most victims were males with an average age of 15 years old, though the complete age range of those injured were from five to 41 years old.

The HEMS report said the most common firecrackers that caused the injuries include the hotdog, Judas belt, whistle bomb, pop up and canister.

Of last year's figures, Cebu accounted for 20, while the remaining three were from Bohol.

The victims were brought to the Cebu City Medical Center and Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, both with six cases, and two each were brought to the Lapu-Lapu City Hospital, Mandaue City Hospital and the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital.

The DOH said as of 6 a.m. yesterday, a total 130 fireworks-related injuries were recorded nationwide, or 31 percent lower compared to the same period last year when 233 cases were noted.

The 129 cases were due to fireworks injuries while the one case of fireworks ingestion involved a five-year old boy from San Mateo, Rizal, who swallowed the “luces” firecrackers when he mistook it for candy.

About six cases required amputations and 25 sustained eye injuries. The banned and illegal small firecracker “piccolo” is still the top culprit for all cases as the said firecracker was said to have caused a total of 86 injuries among the users.

There are no official recorded stray bullet incidents, so far.

The DOH reiterates that firecrackers should be avoided and to never consider it a kind of toy or instrument for fun and merry-making, especially with the coming New Year revelry.

DOH director Cirilo Galindez of the Health Emergency Management Bureau said firecrackers can be deadly and destructive, especially to the future of children. Using firecrackers is like gambling, and chances of losing hands or becoming blind and disabled are likely, he added.*PNA

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