DOH declares 46% downrate on firecrackers related injuries

Ma. Lourdes “Miami” Ebilane
January 1, 2008 Tuesday
Story 1: DOH declares 46% downrate on firecrackers related injuries

People seems to be more cautious in using fircrackers as they welcome the year 2008.

At the latest tally of the Department of Health (DOH), they reported that their were 446 related to firecrackers injuries than to 831 injuries from last year. Or 46% down from the previous record. The tally started December 21, 2007 to January 1, 2008.

390 (72%) out of 446 reported injuries came from Metro Manila, the rest was from provinces. The DOH also pleased to announce that there were no reported casualty as the people welcome the New Year.

Dr. Ernie Vera, Program Manager of DOH’s National Center for Disease and Control said, “With the decline on numbers of victims related to firecrackers, it seems that most people already learned their lessons or listen to our call not to use firecrackers anymore.”

The DOH has been very serious in their campaign “Iwas Paputok” showing photos of damaged hands due to firecrackers.

Vera also added that for this year they recorded 22% eye injury, 70% blast wounds and only 7% amputation.

The DOH also noted that most of the victims used piccolo which victimized mostly children aged 10 years old and below. Though Vera also indicated that there were no major injuries, “We can say it is better now, because the reports were most slight injuries only. That is better than having major one or deaths,”

Meanwhile, the DOH also received reports that there were seven victims of stray bullets.