DOH reports 3 more fireworks injuries, ingestion

The health department began its fireworks-related injuries surveillance on Friday. (Pixabay photo)

MANILA — The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday reported two more fireworks-related injuries (FWRIs) and one case of fireworks ingestion in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The FWRIs were recorded by sentinel hospitals between 6 a.m. on Sunday until 5:59 a.m. on Monday. They involved two and 13-year-old boys who played with piccolo at home. Both suffered from burns without amputation. They were given antibiotics and were sent home after the treatment.

A three-year-old girl accidentally ingested the contents of a flash bomb on Saturday. She is still admitted at the Philippine General Hospital. She was given omeprazole and supportive treatment and was referred to gastroenterologist and toxicologist.

The DOH said the recorded FWRIs starting Friday are 46 percent lower compared to the ones recorded during the same period last year, and 68 percent lower compared to the five-year average.

To date, the breakdown of the FWRIs is: two from NCR, one from Region 3, two from Region 6, one from Region 9 and one from ARMM. Three out of the seven cases were admitted in the hospitals.

The health department began its fireworks-related injuries surveillance on Friday.

Under Executive Order 28, the use of firecrackers shall be confined to community fireworks display to minimize the risk of injuries and casualties.

The DOH also warned the public against illegal fireworks such as watusi, piccolo, atomic triangle, large Judas belt, large bawang, pillbox, boga, Goodbye Philippines, Bin Laden, mother rockets, lolo thunder, coke-in-can, kwitom, atomic bomb, five star, pla-pla, giant whistle bomb, kabasi and other unlabeled and imported firecrackers.