KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews / 26 Dec) – The Department of Health (DOH)-Region XII has recorded 23 firecracker and fireworks-related injuries (FWRI) as holiday celebrations continue in the region.
A report released by DOH XII’s regional epidemiology and surveillance unit (RESU) as of 6 a.m. Thursday said a case of amputation and seven eye injuries have been reported since it started the annual surveillance on December 21, with 12 new FWRI cases reported a day after the Christmas eve revelries.
It only recorded 11 FWRI cases as of 6 a.m. on Christmas Day.
“The count of cases with eye injury, with amputation or no amputation may not match the total number of cases, as an FWRI case can have multiple injuries,” it said.
South Cotabato province reported the most number of cases with nine, followed by Sarangani and Cotabato province with five each, General Santos City with three, and Sultan Kudarat with one. The youngest victim was an eight-year-old boy and the oldest was 66 years old.
Four cases each were caused by boga or improvised cannon, five-star triangle, and kwitis or sky rocket. Two cases were due to piccolo, a banned firecracker, and three by unknown devices.
DOH XII, which conducts the FWRI surveillance in coordination with rural health units and local hospitals, recorded 22 injury cases in the same period last year.
Arjohn Gangoso, DOH XII health education promotion officer, urged residents to be more cautious and refrain from using firecrackers and fireworks, especially the banned and illegal devices.
He said the trend shows that the FWRI cases in the regions have been increasing in the past several years.
RESU recorded 88 FWRI cases in the region during its surveillance from Dec. 21, 2023 to Jan. 6, 2024. It was higher by 126 percent when compared to the 39 cases in 2022 and above the five-year average of 31 cases by 184 percent.
Two amputations and 14 eye injuries were recorded last year. South Cotabato reported 39 FWRI cases while Cotabato province had 27.
In line with the DOH’s Iwas Paputok and Ligtas Christmas campaign, Gangoso said residents should just focus on activities that are “fun and safe.”
“It’s everyone’s responsibility. We want all of us to reach 2025 full of smiles and happy memories,” he added.(Allen V. Estabillo / MindaNews)
