Piccolo is leading cause of firecracker-related injuries, says DOH

(Philstar.com)

December 30, 2017 - 7:09pm

Workers make government-regulated fireworks ahead of the New Year celebrations, which have resulted in fireworks-related injuries and deaths in the past, Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017 in Bulacan province, north of Manila, Philippines. In an attempt to reduce injuries and deaths, the government has banned the use of powerful firecrackers and designated some public areas around Metropolitan Manila for fireworks display to welcome the New Year. AP/Bullit Marquez

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health on Saturday reported that piccolo is still the number one cause of firecracker-related injuries.

Two days before New Year's Eve, five more persons were reported injured since Friday, raising to 77 the total number of cases since the registry opened on December 21.

The number is still 54 cases lower than in the same period in 2016.

Fifty-seven of the injuries were caused by illegal firecrackers, with piccolo having 49 cases. Piccolo accounted for 64 percent of firecracker-related injuries as of December 30.

This was followed by boga (improvised canon), also an illegal firework, with six cases.

More than half or 40 of the cases came from Metro Manila, followed by Western Visayas with nine cases and the Bicol region with eight firecracker-related cases.

Malacañang listed piccolo as one of the prohibited firecrackers (pumuputok) and pyrotechnic devices (umiilaw) for the New Year revelry. Also included in the same list are Super Lolo, Whistle Bomb, Goodbye Earth and Atomic Big Triangulo.

President Rodrigo Duterte last June signed Executive Order 28, which confines the use of pyrotechnics to community fireworks displays to lessen the risk of injuries.

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