BY GLENDA TAYONA and DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
ILOILO City – The Department of Health (DOH) in Western Visayas recorded 33 cases of holiday firecracker-related injuries, as of 4 a.m. on Jan. 1.
According to Regional Director Adriano Suba-an yesterday, the figure was 21 percent lower compared to the 42 reported injuries during the holidays in 2020.
Sixteen of the 33 cases or 48 percent were among 11 to 20 years old.
DOH had no breakdown down yet of the cases per area but the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) reported over the weekend having recorded 20 firecracker-related injuries.
NOCPPO’s record covers from Dec. 24, 2021 to Jan. 1, 2022.
According to NOCPPO, 11 of the injuries were minors, with the youngest victim at seven years old, while the oldest was 60.
According to DOH, eye injuries (16 cases) and blast injuries (14 cases) not requiring amputation were among the types of injuries reported by sentinel and non-sentinel hospitals.
Data also showed that of the 33 cases, 11 were from sentinel sites of DOH-retained hospitals and 22 were from non-sentinel sites.
Prohibited firecrackers such as boga and triangle accounted for the top causes of injuries.
Meanwhile, according to Dr. Ma. Sophia Pulmones, DOH-6’s chief of Local Health Support Division, most of the cases who sought consultation in hospitals were treated and sent home.
Also, majority of the reported victims were tagged as “active cases” (they were the ones who lit the firecrackers) while only few were “passive” (they were just watching or passing by when accidentally blasted by firecrackers).
Pulmones said their surveillance on firecracker-related cases which started Dec. 21, 2021 will be until Jan. 5. However, monitoring of cases of tetanus due to firecracker-related cases will be until Jan. 22, 2022.
Suba-an also expressed his appreciation to all health personnel in hospitals who were on duty during the holiday season.
Suba-an noted a decreasing trend in firecracker-related injuries in the past three years, particularly in 2020 when the region was still on strict quarantine classification due to the pandemic, from 139 cases in 2028; 115 cases in 2019; to 42 cases in 2020.
The high level of awareness on the dangers of using firecrackers and the low supply were among the reasons cited for decrease of case.
Suba-an also cited the “Iwas Paputok” campaign of the DOH with the aim of preventing fireworks-related injuries during holidays and providing alternative to fireworks.
The regional director led DOH-6 on Saturday in visiting different private and government-run hospitals in the region to assess and ensure their preparedness and response to firework-related injuries.
The visit was part of DOH’s monitoring and evaluation of hospitals provision of emergency medical services to victims of fireworks-related injuries while being mindful of COVID-19 emergency and urgent care.
In Negros Occidental, one of the firecracker victims was a female resident of Cadiz City who, according to investigation, revealed that she was sitting outside of her house when a skyrocket or “kwitis” struck her around five minutes before 12 midnight of Dec. 31.
Four of the victims were reported to be minors, while two others suffered injuries after using a PVC cannon or boga.
Data further shows all of the victims were not inebriated, but all of them incurred their injuries outside the designated firecracker zones
NOCPPO spokesperson Police Lt. Abegael Donasco, said they have also not recorded any stray bullet incidents.
Donasco said there was no muzzle taping since they didn’t receive any order from the national headquarters.
However, all uniformed personnel were warned prior to New Year’s Day that they could face charges if they are caught unlawfully discharging their firearms./PN
