Firework-related injuries hit 384 as 2016 enters

MANILA, Philippines - The number of firework-related injuries has reached 384 as of 6 a.m. on the first day of 2016, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

The number of injuries reported is 53 percent lower than the same period the previous year and 57 percent lower than the 2010 to 2014 average.

A total of 380 out of 384 cases were caused by fireworks or firecrackers while the other four cases are from stray bullets.

The DOH said that 219 out of 380 injuries were caused by piccolo and other firecrackers such as five star, kwitis and lusis.

Health Secretary Janette Garin suggested that piccolo should be banned in the country. Fifty-eight percent of the injuries were caused by the illegal firecracker.

Most of the firework-related injuries came from the National Capital Region with 243 cases or 63 percent of the total cases.

The DOH reported one reported death from firecrackers. The lone casualty was a reported drunk man who hugged a "Goodbye Philippines" after igniting the firecracker.

Majority of the cases involved persons less than 14 years old, the DOH said. Nine children had their fingers amputated due to firecracker-related incidents.

Meanwhile, there was no recorded case of firecracker ingestion this year.

The DOH is seeking to implement total firecracker ban in the country by 2016.

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