Firecracker-related injuries reported
WORSE THAN 2013
LINGAYEN—First the good news: No one was reported killed or hurt by a stray bullet in Pangasinan during the New Year’s eve revelry and the number of reported firecracker-related injuries was lower than the previous year.
However, based on data from the Provincial Health Office (PHO), victims remained at more than a 120, half of which are within the 5-14 age range.
In Calasiao, proof was found that there remained reckless revellers who fired their guns to welcome the New Year.
As of January 2 at 10 a.m., there were 123 firecracker-related injuries around the province, 20 percent lower than the same period the previous year at 149, according Dr. Theresa De Guzman, PHO chief.
De Guzman said the figures could possibly go higher with the final count as the PHO is monitoring firecracker-related incidents till January 5 2014.
She lamented that the number remains far from their zero-wounded target.
The PHO has removed free medical services for firecracker victims effective this year.
“The free program of the PHO somehow gives the people the impression that it is okay to get blasted by firecrackers so we decided to charge cost of medicines and only the doctor’s fee will be free,” De Guzman said.
Three out of the reported victims obtained blasting burn with amputation, treated at the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital, Mapandan Community Hospital, and Pozorrubio Community Hospital.
The youngest victim was an eight month-old from Pias, Mapandan while the oldest was 83.
Piccolo was still the most commonly used hazardous firecracker, affecting 33 or 27% of the cases; followed by whistle bomb with 13 cases.
The PHO advised those who have been injured by firecrackers to seek immediate treatment at the health centers to avoid secondary infections.
Meanwhile, De Guzman also reported that they have not recorded any food poisoning incident in the recent holidays.
SLUG FOUND
A slug of caliber .45, believed to have been indiscriminately fired by a reveller, was found in the morning of Jan. 1 in front of the house of Gabriel “Ging” Cardinoza, local correspondent for the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Cardinoza said his nephew Jeremy Limos, who is in his 30s, was cleaning their front yard around 7:00 a.m. when he saw the slug.
Cardinoza said they are sure that the slug landed on his front yard during the New Year’s eve revelry as Limos cleaned the same area before they set up their barbecue stand before midnight and didn’t see it.
“We are thankful no one was hit and our children slept before 12 midnight otherwise it would have been a bloody New Year for us,” he said.
He submitted the slug for possible investigation and identification of the irresponsible reveller.
—with reports from Johanne R. Macob, Dada Austria and Eva Visperas
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
