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Four-year old's fingers amputated as fireworks-related injuries rise further: DOH

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Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Revelers light up firecrackers to welcome 2018 in Titay, Zamboanga Sibugay on Jan. 1, 2018. Firecrackers and pyrotechnics are still used during the new year despite an executive order banning its usage in households and places of residence. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File " src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/12/26/20180101-newyear-fireworks-zamboanga-md-770.jpg"/><figcaption>Revelers light up firecrackers to welcome 2018 in Titay, Zamboanga Sibugay on Jan. 1, 2018. Firecrackers and pyrotechnics are still used during the new year despite an executive order banning its usage in households and places of residence. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File </figcaption></figure></div>MANILA (UPDATE) — The Philippines listed 8 new firecracker-related injuries hours before the country welcomes the New Year, bringing the total number of cases to 115 early Sunday.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/30/23/ahead-of-new-years-eve-firecracker-related-injuries-breach-100-mark">Firecracker-related injuries in PH breach 100-mark ahead of New Year’s Eve</a></li></ul>Over a third of the cases or 44 injured patients came from 8 areas in the National Capital Region, Department of Health (DOH) officials said. The agency declined to name the 8 Metro Manila areas where the injuries took place. “More businesses are open this year so mas mataas ang access to all of these commodities,” Dr. Aleli Sudiacal, DOH regional head for Metro Manila, said in a press conference. “People are back to celebrating how they were celebrating the new year… It’s revenge celebration that we’re having this year,” she said. Among the new cases is a 4-year-old boy from Central Luzon, who lost all fingers on high right hand after lighting a “dart bomb” firecracker, Health Undersecretary Eric Tayag said. “The DOH is seriously concerned how such fireworks are able to reach the hands of your children,” the Undersecretary said. “Kami po ay nananawagan sa kapulisan pa rin kahit bisperas na ng bagong taon na sana ay masabat ang fireworks na maaaring sumira sa kinabukasan ng mga bata,” he said. Meantime, 13 firecracker-related injuries were listed in Central Luzon as well as in Ilocos, 9 happened in SOCCSKSARGEN and 6 in Calabarzon. Bicol, Cagayan and Western Visayas each reported 5 cases, while 1 firecracker-related injury was confirmed in Davao.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/28/23/4-year-old-swallows-watusi-firework-related-injuries-climb-to-88-doh">4-year-old swallows watusi; firework-related injuries climb to 88: DOH</a></li></ul>The tally came from government health facilities, and does not include patients who were taken to private hospitals, the DOH said. So far, the current figures are still lower compared to last year’s 307 cases, but the number of firecracker-related injuries are expected to still rise as clock ticks closer to midnight, Health officials said. While the government is still expecting to see hundreds of firecracker-related injuries this year, Tayag underscored that the number is already significantly lower compared to previous years when the Philippines did not enforce an anti-firecracker policy. “Bago tayo magkaroon ng batas, libu-libo ang nagkakaroon ng tenatus at fireworks related injuries at stray bullets,” the DOH official said. “Kung mananatili ang trend sa mga susunod na taon, maaaring hindi na lalampas ng 400 ang bilang ng kaso,” Tayag said. Aside from campaigning against the use of firecrackers, the DOH has been reminding the public to avoid excessive drinking during New Year’s eve celebrations as these often result into vehicular accidents and incidents of stabbing and mauling. The public should also avoid overindulging during media noche to avoid other health issues such as heart failure and stroke, Tayag said. A person should immediately go to the hospital once he or she experiences headaches, blurring of vision, facial drooping, slurred speech and numbness on one side of the body, he said. The DOH said it would start soon release data as to the number of individuals who were taken to hospitals during the festive season because of stroke and other health issues linked to overindulgence.

The number of fireworks-related injuries in the Philippines is now at 115, the Department of Health reported Sunday.

Four-year old's fingers amputated as fireworks-related injuries rise further: DOH

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Four-year old's fingers amputated as fireworks-related injuries rise further: DOH

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published December 31, 2023 01:45 PM PHT

|

Updated December 31, 2023 03:56 PM PHT

Read More:

DOH

fireworks

firecrackers

Department of Health

FWRI

fireworks-related injuries

paputok

new year

new year's eve

ANC

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