MANILA, Philippines — Nineteen firework-related injuries have been recorded so far in the country, the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday.
In a media briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the figure is 58% higher compared to the 12 cases reported in the same period last year.
It is 67% lower than the five-year average of 58 cases during the same time period.
“All injuries were due to fireworks… There was no fireworks ingestion, stray bullet injury, or death reported,” Vergeire said.
The health official said seven of the incidents occurred in Western Visayas.
She added that 16 cases were due to illegal fireworks, including boga (6) and piccolo (3), and three cases were due to legal fireworks.
Vergeire reiterated the DOH’s call for the public to refrain from using firecrackers to prevent accidents.
“Pigilan po natin ang aksidente at disgrasya dahil sa paputok sa pamamagitan ng pag-iwas sa paggamit nito at pagiging handa sa lahat ng pwedeng maging aksidente,” she said.
She also urged the public to continue adhering to public health protocols and avoid activities that promote virus transmission.
“Ating iwasan din muna ang paggamit ng torotot, pito, o iba pang mga laruan na ginagamitan ng bibig upang maiwasan natin ang pagkahawa-hawaan,” she said.
The post 19 firework-related injuries recorded so far — DOH appeared first on UNTV News.