MANILA, Philippines — A 12-year-old boy from Nueva Ecija lost a finger after an illegal firecracker exploded in his hand on Friday, becoming the first victim of a firecracker incident this Yuletide season.
Based on a report of the Department of Health (DOH) yesterday, the victim was igniting a 5-Star, a triangular firecracker that is illegal. The firecracker exploded in his left hand, resulting in the amputation of his third digital finger.
The boy was rushed to the Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center where he underwent “wound debridement and disarticulation.”
He was also given anti-tetanus shots.
DOH Undersecretary Eric Domingo has reiterated the agency’s call against the use of firecrackers this Yuletide season.
He also urged local government units, barangay leaders and private organizations to organize community fireworks displays to allow the public to welcome the New Year without using firecrackers.
“It’s about time we stop the household use of firecrackers for the protection of the public, especially the children. We should not be complacent when it comes to their safety and welfare,” he said.
Domingo added there are other noise-making devices that can be used to usher in the year 2019.
The official also called on the police to strictly enforce the ban on certain firecrackers, especially piccolo which has been the leading cause of injuries, particularly among children, in the past New Year celebration.
Currently, piccolo and 5-Star are among the firecrackers that is banned in the country. The others are watusi, super lolo, atomic triangle, large Judas belt, large bawang, pillbox, boga, Goodbye Philippines, Bin Laden, mother rockets, lolo thunder, Coke-in-can, kwiton, atomic bomb, pla-pla, OG, giant whistle bomb and kabasi, among others.
DOH data show there were 463 fireworks-related injuries from Dec. 21, 2017 to Jan. 5, 2018. This is 27 percent lower than the 672 cases documented from Dec. 21, 2016 to Jan. 5, 2017.
Most affected age group is 10-14 accounting for 265 of the 463 cases.
Central Luzon has 637 registered community fireworks display areas, down from 873 registered last year.
The establishment of community fireworks display areas is in compliance with Executive Order 28 that provides for the regulation and control of the use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices.
Reports reaching Chief Supt. Joel Napoleon Coronel, regional police director of Central Luzon, said that Bulacan has 195 community fireworks display areas followed by Zambales with 174, Nueva Ecija 93, Bataan 69, Aurora 33, Pampanga 30, Tarlac 29 and Angeles 14.
Last year, there were 399 community fireworks display areas in Bulacan out of the 569 barangays in the province.
Senior Supt. Chito Bersaluna, Bulacan police director, said that local government units in the province could still designate community fireworks display areas in their jurisdictions provided that these are to be reported to the Bulacan police.
Section 1 of the EO 28 states that “use of firecrackers shall henceforth be confined to community fireworks displays.”