PHO reports 40% more firecracker injuries
SEVEN SUFFERED AMPUTATION
LINGAYEN—As of January 4, the Provincial Health Office (PHO) here recorded an almost 40% increase in the number of persons treated for firecracker injuries incidents this year compared to the same period last year.
Provincial health officer Dr. Anna De Guzman said 247 firecracker-related injuries were recorded this 2014-2015 Yuletide season compared to 180 cases in 2013-2014.
She said most of the injuries were caused by banned firecrackers leading government to believe that these were surreptitiously sold in barangays.
The major culprit, the health officer said, still, was the firecracker ‘piccolo,’ that caused 25% of the total number of injuries.
Other top firecrackers that caused injuries included ‘boga,’ ‘lusis,’ and ‘kwitis’.
According to the PHO data, 84% of the victims were males, with the youngest victim aged two years old and the oldest was 89.
Majority of the victims were aged 10-14 years old.
Injuries were mainly blast burn in the hand, feet, knee, chest, axilla, face, and eye. Seven cases of blast burn with hand amputation were recorded.
Towns with highest number of firecracker incidents were Dagupan City with 38 cases, Bayambang, 22; Malasiqui, 20; Urdaneta City, 16; and Calasiao, 15.
Meanwhile, four injuries caused by stray bullets were also recorded in Asingan, Balungao, Tayug, and Calasiao. – (Johanne Macob /PNA)
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