DOH reports 164 fireworks injuries due to New Year revelry
Published Dec 31, 2019 12:00 am
By Analou De Vera and Aaron Recuenco
The Department of Health (DOH) reported 164 fireworks-related injuries (FWRIs) at the end of the New Year revelry which is 87 cases lower than the 251 cases reported during the same period of December 21 to 6.m. of January 1 of 2018.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
"The Department of Health today reported a 35 percent decrease in fireworks-related injuries but cautioned the public that these numbers may still increase due to late consultation. There was no case of fireworks ingestion, stray bullet injury, and death reported," said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III during a press briefing at the East Avenue Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City.
"Those injured should immediately have their consultation at the nearest health facility for proper health management and to avoid fatal complications like tetanus," he said.
Duque said the decrease in the cases can be attributed to Executive Order No. 28 that regulates the use of firecrackers among individuals and confining its use to community displays.
"Pangalawa, yung effectiveness, impact ng DOH information campaign on 'Iwas Paputok,'" he added.
The health chief reported that most of the cases were recorded in the National Capital Region with 84 reported injuries, followed by Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) with 13 cases; Ilocos region with 12 cases; Central Luzon with 11 cases; Cagayan Valley and Western Visayas with 10 cases each.
Duque said that the top five fireworks that caused most of the injuries were Kwitis, Luces, Fountain, Piccolo, and Baby rocket. He noted that the only illegal firework among the five was Piccolo.
"Most injured body parts were hands, eyes, head, legs, and forearm or arm," he said.
Duque noted that their last reporting period for all the cases of FWRIs will be on January 6. "By January 3 we would have been able to report 90 percent of all the FWRIs," he added.
Duque said that to be able to achieve zero-casualty, a total ban on firecracker use should be imposed.
"What is the instrument of achieving that----it's banning it just like other countries that ban the use of fireworks," said Duque.
Duque said that both legal and illegal firecrackers may cause injuries to its users.
"I keep pounding on the fact that as vanguards of public health, as protectors of the health of the Filipino people, there is no such a thing as legal or illegal fireworks. Every firework product can be injurious," said the health chief.
"If you look at the data, the statistics--- it will show that more legal fireworks causing injuries rather than the illegal. Earlier in my roundtable discussions with the other officials of the DOH, it's a bit oxymoronic to say that it is legal but it is injurious. So those two things are not in congruence. They are conflicting," he added.
Duque said that the DOH is hopeful that the "administration of President Duterte will be able to make a legacy of an absolute ban of fireworks so we will have zero injury."
PNP reports injuries reduced by 50 percent
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has recorded more than 50 percent reduction in cases of firecracker-related injuries and indiscriminate firing this New Year revelry compared to last year, from December 16 to the first six hours of the New Year.
From 794 recorded from December 16 to the first six hours of 2019, the figure went down to only 324 on the same period, according to PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac.
He said the figure includes the 81 firecracker-related injuries, mostly self-inflicted, by violators of the firecracker ban.
"Based on PNP records, the year 2019 probably goes down in history as the safest and most uneventful observance of the Christmas and New Year holidays that posted zero death," said Banac on a statement posted yesterday.
"We are grateful that the people heeded our call to shun the age-old tradition of welcoming the new year with dangerous firecrackers and gunfire that has resulted in death and injuries in previous years," he added.
Citing PNP data, Banac said there were three reported stray bullet incidents in Metro Manila and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
But Banac said the three recorded stray bullet injuries did not result to death.
What they have, according to Banac, was seven cases of injuries as a result of indiscriminate firing in BARMM and Caraga regions days before the New Year revelry.
He said those illegal discharge of firearms resulted in the arrest of three people, including two soldiers in BARMM.
From December 16 last year, the PNP recorded 21 cases of illegal discharge of firearms.
"The PNP arrested 21 persons for illegal discharge of firearms and 44 others for firecracker-related offenses," said Banac.
Of the 21 arrested for firing guns, 14 were civilians, one PNP personnel, two soldiers, one militiaman, and three security guards.
"They will face the stiffest criminal and administrative sanctions applicable," said Banac. (with reports from Glazyl Masculino, Mike Crismundo, Nel Andrade, Armando Fenequito, Jr., Malu Manar, Freddie Velez)
(MANILA BULLETIN)
"The Department of Health today reported a 35 percent decrease in fireworks-related injuries but cautioned the public that these numbers may still increase due to late consultation. There was no case of fireworks ingestion, stray bullet injury, and death reported," said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III during a press briefing at the East Avenue Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City.
"Those injured should immediately have their consultation at the nearest health facility for proper health management and to avoid fatal complications like tetanus," he said.
Duque said the decrease in the cases can be attributed to Executive Order No. 28 that regulates the use of firecrackers among individuals and confining its use to community displays.
"Pangalawa, yung effectiveness, impact ng DOH information campaign on 'Iwas Paputok,'" he added.
The health chief reported that most of the cases were recorded in the National Capital Region with 84 reported injuries, followed by Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) with 13 cases; Ilocos region with 12 cases; Central Luzon with 11 cases; Cagayan Valley and Western Visayas with 10 cases each.
Duque said that the top five fireworks that caused most of the injuries were Kwitis, Luces, Fountain, Piccolo, and Baby rocket. He noted that the only illegal firework among the five was Piccolo.
"Most injured body parts were hands, eyes, head, legs, and forearm or arm," he said.
Duque noted that their last reporting period for all the cases of FWRIs will be on January 6. "By January 3 we would have been able to report 90 percent of all the FWRIs," he added.
Duque said that to be able to achieve zero-casualty, a total ban on firecracker use should be imposed.
"What is the instrument of achieving that----it's banning it just like other countries that ban the use of fireworks," said Duque.
Duque said that both legal and illegal firecrackers may cause injuries to its users.
"I keep pounding on the fact that as vanguards of public health, as protectors of the health of the Filipino people, there is no such a thing as legal or illegal fireworks. Every firework product can be injurious," said the health chief.
"If you look at the data, the statistics--- it will show that more legal fireworks causing injuries rather than the illegal. Earlier in my roundtable discussions with the other officials of the DOH, it's a bit oxymoronic to say that it is legal but it is injurious. So those two things are not in congruence. They are conflicting," he added.
Duque said that the DOH is hopeful that the "administration of President Duterte will be able to make a legacy of an absolute ban of fireworks so we will have zero injury."
PNP reports injuries reduced by 50 percent
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has recorded more than 50 percent reduction in cases of firecracker-related injuries and indiscriminate firing this New Year revelry compared to last year, from December 16 to the first six hours of the New Year.
From 794 recorded from December 16 to the first six hours of 2019, the figure went down to only 324 on the same period, according to PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac.
He said the figure includes the 81 firecracker-related injuries, mostly self-inflicted, by violators of the firecracker ban.
"Based on PNP records, the year 2019 probably goes down in history as the safest and most uneventful observance of the Christmas and New Year holidays that posted zero death," said Banac on a statement posted yesterday.
"We are grateful that the people heeded our call to shun the age-old tradition of welcoming the new year with dangerous firecrackers and gunfire that has resulted in death and injuries in previous years," he added.
Citing PNP data, Banac said there were three reported stray bullet incidents in Metro Manila and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
But Banac said the three recorded stray bullet injuries did not result to death.
What they have, according to Banac, was seven cases of injuries as a result of indiscriminate firing in BARMM and Caraga regions days before the New Year revelry.
He said those illegal discharge of firearms resulted in the arrest of three people, including two soldiers in BARMM.
From December 16 last year, the PNP recorded 21 cases of illegal discharge of firearms.
"The PNP arrested 21 persons for illegal discharge of firearms and 44 others for firecracker-related offenses," said Banac.
Of the 21 arrested for firing guns, 14 were civilians, one PNP personnel, two soldiers, one militiaman, and three security guards.
"They will face the stiffest criminal and administrative sanctions applicable," said Banac. (with reports from Glazyl Masculino, Mike Crismundo, Nel Andrade, Armando Fenequito, Jr., Malu Manar, Freddie Velez)