FIRECRACKER-related injuries continue to rise ahead of the New Year’s Eve celebration as 11 more victims were recorded by the Department of Health (DoH), bringing to 24 the total number of cases.
The new cases involved a six-year-old boy from Tondo, Manila, who reportedly ingested a pili cracker on Christmas Day.
The victim was rushed to the UP- Philippine General Hospital.
The DoH said that four of the new cases were reported in the National Capital Region, three in Western Visayas, and one case each in Calabarzon, Bicol region, Central Visayas and Zamboanga Peninsula.
However, the DoH said that the total number of cases that were recorded from 6 a.m. of Dec. 21 to 6 a.m. of Dec. 26 remains lower compared to last year.
“This is 28 cases lower compared to the same reporting period of 2017,” the health department noted.
The age of the victims are between two and 49 years old. Majority of them are males (21 cases).
The DoH said that the “top fireworks involved” were “boga,” “triangle” and ‘kwitis.’
Recently, caused-oriented group EcoWaste Coalition advised adult people to “lead by example by not buying and exploding firecrackers, which are harmful to human, animal and ecological health.”
The group also urged children not to play with firecrackers as these are not toys.
“In lieu of firecrackers and fireworks, the EcoWaste Coalition encourages the public to opt for alternative noisemakers that can be made out of common household materials and recyclables junks,” the group said. (Analou de Vera)
