LINGAYEN–Cases of firecracker explosions and injuries caused by stray bullets in Pangasinan decreased by 14 percent as the police and the Department of Health combined registered only 84 cases from December 21 to January 1 as compared to the 94  cases registered last year for the same period.

This was revealed by the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPPO) and the Provincial Health Office which jointly monitored these incidents, especially on December 31 to January 1 when Pangasinenses welcomed the new year.

A report prepared by Rodhalia Binay-an, Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit nurse coordinator, said the youngest case was a one-year-old while the oldest was aged 70, both male.

Dagupan City had the most number of cases with 14, followed by San Carlos City with 12 and Lingayen with 8.

The cases were considered active meaning they were injured while lighting or holding the firecracker, the report added.

Most commonly-affected age group and sex are 10-14 years old and a majority of the cases was male.

The number of firecracker-injured victims treated in hospitals were: Pangasinan Provincial Hospital (18), Region1 Medical Center in Dagupan (14) and 10 cases each in Lingayen District Hospital and Bayambang District Hospital, Mapandan Community Hospital (6), Urdaneta District Hospital with five cases, Eastern Pangasinan District Hospital and Western Pangasinan District Hospital with four cases each, Bolinao Community Hospital and Umingan Community Hospital with 3 cases each, Manaoag Community Hospital and Pozorrubio Community Hospital two cases each, and one each in Dasol Community Hospital and Malasiqui Community Hospital.

Those that had zero firecracker victims were Asingan Community Hospital and Mangatarem District Hospital.

Kwitis was mostly used firecracker with 25 victims, fountain (8), luces (6), bawang (5), boga and triangle with 4 each, mixed pulbura, pla-pla, whistle bomb and one unknown kind with 3 each, baby rocket, piccolo and pillbox with 2 each, baby dynamite, fireworks display, paper bullet and sinturon ni hudas with1 each.

Forty-eight cases had injured hands/fingers, 10 in their head, 5 in chest area, 3 in knee/leg, 2 in forearm, 13 in eyes.

Meanwhile, the towns that have zero firecracker-injured victims were Agno, Anda, Burgos, Dasol, Infanta, Sual, Aguilar, Labrador, Mangatarem, Urbiztondo, Sto. Tomas, Asingan, Binalonan, Laoac, San Manuel, Balungao, Natividad, Rosales, San Nicolas and San Quintin.

The youngest victim of firecracker explosion was Zian Russel Catungal, who is one year and six months old from Barangay Tarece, San Carlos City, who was rushed to the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital at 1:05 a.m. on January 1 for the treatment of his thermal burn injury on his left chest caused by a fountain firecracker that exploded inside their home.

The oldest was Bernardo Dipolog, 76,  who, along with Crystal Anne Quinto, 24,  suffered second degree burns caused by “kwitis” that hit them both in Barangay Lucao, Dagupan City. Both, however, were sent home after their treatment at the Region 1 Medical Center.

Dipolog and Quinto were among seven persons rushed to the R1MC at past 12 a.m. on January 1 due to firecracker injuries.

The most serious of the victims was Allan Alliure, 22, of PNR Mayombo, Dagupan City whose left hand was blasted by a Baby Dynamite and had to be admitted at R1MC.

The other victims were Ermocer Gemino, 23, of Bolosan, Dagupan City who was treated with second degree burns when a “kwitis” exploded prematurely in front of him; Camille May Jimenez, 16, of Catacdang, Bonuan Gueset, who suffered abrasion on her left neck and lower right eye, also caused by a “kwitis”.

Meanwhile, John Berot, 19, of Pantal, Dagupan City, was sent home after he was treated at R1MC for a blasting injury in his left hand caused by pla-pla firecracker: Kherbin Weber, 25, of Arellano Street in Barangay Pantal who suffered abrasion in his right foot caused by a “bawang” firecracker.

Pablo Gavunia, 27, of Natividad, was injured in his left hand when a pla-pla firecracker that he picked up exploded in his hand; Romeo Terre, 44, of Barangay Lapalo, San Manuel, was treated for  minor burns in his left leg when he lit a “kwitis” that misfired.

Johlito Macaraeg, 32, of Basista was treated at the Municipal Health Office for minor injuries in his neck and right hand caused by a skyrocket that exploded in front of him; Joel Pidlaoan, 39, of Urbiztondo, was eating “tikoy” when the firecracker exploded in his hand

Willy Garcia, 20, of Salinap, San Carlos City, was treated for injuries on his face blasted by a pla-pla while  Jun-Jun Sanchez, 16, of Barangay Palaming, was treated for laceration in his lower eyelid caused by “bawang”.

Jhayvie Selmo, 18, of Guelew, San Carlos City suffered multiple lacerated wounds caused by “kwitis”. (Leonardo Micua/Philstgar News Service)

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