The Department of Health in the Philippines said that firecracker-related injuries this year was 85% lower compared to 2020’s records.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that there were only 50 firework-related injuries in relation to the New Year revelries were recorded as of Friday, January 1.
49 were firework-related injuries while one was a stray bullet. This record ranged from Dec. 21, 2020 to Jan. 1, 2021.
Duque said that this is 85% lower compared to the 340 cases in 2020.
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“Majority of the injuries were blast injuries not requiring amputation at 67 percent. About 33 percent are eye injuries, while two percent were blast injuries requiring amputation,” Duque added.
The top five firecrackers that caused injuries were “kwitis” (29 percent), “boga” (eight percent), “5-star” (eight percent), “fountain” (eight percent), and “triangle” (eight percent).
“We have also observed that there was a change of behavior of Filipinos towards health. Due to the pandemic, the Filipinos became more aware and involved in ensuring the health and safety of their family and community,” Duque added. (TDT)
