DOH: 8 firecracker injuries so far

MANILA, Philippines - A week before New Year’s Eve, the Department of Health (DOH) has so far recorded eight firecracker-related injuries.

In its “Aksyon: Paputok Injury Reduction 2015” report, the DOH-Epidemiology Bureau said yesterday that this year’s number of injuries is 14 cases lower than in the same period in 2014.

Four of the eight cases were from Metro Manila, including that of a 12-year-old boy from Bacoor, Cavite who sustained abrasions on the right hand and a 13-year-old boy who suffered surface burns on the right eye.

The DOH in Tagum City, Davao del Norte recorded the cases of a 12-year-old boy who suffered abrasion and mild avulsion on the right hand and a 31-year-old man who had multiple lacerated avulsed wounds on the first and second digits of the right hand.  

The report is based on the reports submitted by 50 sentinel hospitals across the country.

The DOH had reiterated its call for the public to avoid using firecrackers in welcoming the New Year.