A 13-year-old boy is in danger of losing both his hands after he picked up a firecracker on New Year’s Eve.
According to Ian Cruz’s report on “24 Oras,” the victim was rushed to the East Avenue Medical Center with bleeding hands, as well as injuries to other parts of his body and a hole in his stomach.
The hospital said that the victim was picking up unexploded firecrackers with his friends in Taytay, Rizal when one exploded in his hands.
“Malala yung tama ng dalawang kamay nya. Tinatanong ko sa kanya gaano kalakas ang pagsabog. Parang granada raw sabi ng kaibigan ng nanay,” said Taytay Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office Medic Edson Guzman.
(The injury on his two hands was severe. I asked him how strong the explosion was. His mother’s friend said it was like a grenade.)
The victim was among the 25 victims of firecracker-related injuries rushed to the East Avenue Medical Center since Christmas, and the 9th victim for January 1 alone.
Another 18-year-old boy was also rushed to the hospital on New Year’s Eve with burns after a firecracker lit by his friend flew towards his hands in Culiat, Quezon.
He was brought to the hospital with another friend, who lost a nail after being hit by an exploding Whistle Bomb.
“Nagpapasalamat nga po ako eh kasi yun lang ang nangyari, kasi halos po lahat ng nakita ko dyan kagabi ang lalalala po ng ano mga condition po nila,” said a victim who was injured by a kwitis.
(I was grateful because this is all that happened since almost everybody I saw here last night had severe conditions.)
Meanwhile, the hospital also tended to victims of beatings and drunk drivers resulting from New Year’s Day celebrations.
An 11-year-old girl was rushed to the hospital with a wound on her back after being hit by a drunk rider in Fairview, Quezon City.
“Nakainom po kaya bigla na lang siya… Dapat nga dahan-dahan, kasi maraming kabataan eh. Kaso sa lasing, napabilis po ang takbo nya,” said the victim’s mother.
(He had some drinks, so he suddenly… He should’ve driven carefully because there were a lot of children. But since he was so drunk, he was driving too fast.)
Seventeen firecracker-related injuries have also been reported by the Quirino Memorial Medical Center since December 31.
Medical personnel in several hospitals continue to be on high alert for more victims over the coming days.
