DOH reports no major firecracker-related injuries in New Year revelry in Eastern Visayas

Tacloban City (January 5) -- The Department of Health in Eastern Visayas informed that there were no major firecracker blasting injuries during the New Year revelry in the Region.

DOH 8 Director Eduardo Gonzaga, through Mr. Boyd Cerro, DOH 8 Sentinel Nurse, informed the Philippine Information Agency that all the reported cases were minor injuries and burns due to blasting of firecrackers. No cases of amputations were observed, Director Gonzaga said.

The Department of Health in Region 8 informed that as of January 4, 2010, there are about 28 cases related to the New Year revelry which has been reported from all over Eastern Visayas Region.

The Department of Health also noted that there were no stray bullet incidents. Mr. Boyd Cerro of the Department of Health said that this may be accounted to the fact that the Philippine National Police in the Region really implemented the sealing of gun barrels during the holiday season. There was no report whatsoever of indiscriminate firing by soldiers or private individuals during the New Year revelry.

Although there were 28 cases reported two cases more than last year’s 26, these were only minor blasting injuries and there were no amputations, Mr. Cerro said. This is the second year that no cases of amputations were reported in the Region.

Of the 28 cases, eleven were from Northern Samar; five in Eastern Samar; one in Southern Leyte and eleven from the province of Leyte.

The Department of Health in the Region is still awaiting for the report of the provinces of Samar and Biliran.

Mr. Cerro credited the fact that there are only minor firecracker injuries this year, to the Fourmula Iwas Paputok campaign of the Department of Health. He also recognized the help of the local government units, the Philippine National Police and the media.

In the national front, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has reported that as of Monday, January 4, a total of 966 injuries have been reported. Of these, 922 were due to fireworks, 1 watusi ingestion and 43 stray bullet injuries. This is 233 cases or 32 percent higher compared to last year and 12 cases higher than the 5-year average of daily cumulative cases from 2004 to 2008.

The number of fatalities remains at three, all from firecracker injuries while the 43 reported stray bullet cases were 153 percent higher than the previous year. (PIA 8)

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