GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews / 01 January) — At least 31 fireworks-related injuries have been recorded in Region 12 as of Monday morning, mostly caused by illegal firecrackers and improvised devices.
A report from the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) of the Department of Health-Region 12 as of 6 a.m. Monday, Jan. 1, said the injury cases were based on consolidated reports from the rural health units and hospitals in Region 12 since December 21.
Region 12 comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong and Kidapawan, or what is commonly referred to as Soccsksargen.
Region 12 records 31 fireworks-related injuries from December 21, 2023 until 6 a.m. of January 1, 2024. (Canva photo)
According to Dr. Dyan Zubelle Parayao, RESU head, the number of injuries is up by 15 percent from the 27 cases recorded from December 21, 2022 to January 1, 2023, and 11 percent higher than the average 28 cases recorded in the region in the last five years.
As pf 6 a.m. on Monday, four cases had been reported in the last 24 hours leading to and in the aftermath of the New Year revelries. Sixteen cases were recorded from Christmas Eve on December 24 and on Christmas Day on December 25.
South Cotabato province posted the highest number of fireworks-related injuries at 20, followed by North Cotabato with nine, and Sarangani and Sultan Kudarat with one each.
Parayao said the victims, mostly male, were aged seven to 45 years-old. Among the injured, one lost a finger, while six suffered eye injuries.
Four of the cases required hospital admission and “the hand (15 cases) was the most body part affected,” she said.
“Twenty three of the injured were actively lighting the fireworks…five (victims) were allegedly intoxicated with alcohol at the time of injury,” she noted in the RESU report.
The report said 18 of the injury cases were caused by illegal firecrackers and devices, with eight by 5-Star triangle, five due to Boga gun or improvised PVC pipe cannon, two by piccolo and one each by triangle, whistle bomb and an unlabeled imported firecracker.
Thirteen cases were caused by legally sold items, with 10 by Kwitis or sky rocket and one each by small triangulo, diamond 16 shots and sparkler.
Twenty two of the victims were injured in their homes and nine on the streets. (Allen V. Estabillo / MindaNews)
