BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The Department of Health-Cordillera will intensify its campaign on fireworks and firecrackers safety during the celebration of the holiday season following the increase of fireworks related injuries (FWRI) in the region
DOH-CAR Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit nurse Victoria Malicdan reported a 22 percent increase in the FWRI in the Cordillera region from 41 cases in 2023 to 50 cases during the monitoring from Dec. 21, 2024 to Jan. 6, 2025.
There were 49 cases of FWRI and a stray bullet case which involved a 16- year old girl from Tabuk City, Kalinga.
The province of Abra recorded the highest number of FWRI with 12, followed by Kalinga with 10, including the stray bullet incident. Baguio City recorded nine cases, Benguet with eight, Apayao and Mountain Province with five cases each and Ifugao with one case.
The majority of the injured cases are males with 38 cases. There were also 10 cases of FWRI who were under the influence of liquor.
The youngest case is four- year old girl from Sta. Marcela, Apayao who sustained blast / burn injury on the right side of the face caused by users of “boga.” The oldest case is an 84-year old male, a passive user from Tabuk City, Kalinga, who was hit by a kwitis and sustained blast and burn injuries on his abdomen and private parts.
Majority of the injuries were caused by “boga” which is an illegal fireworks with 17 cases and “kwitis” with 14 cases.
Malicdan said that 12 cases sustained eye injuries, 32 cases had blast/burn injuries without amputation, three cases of blast/burn injury with amputation, and two with multiple injuries.
Two of the cases were amputated on the affected body parts. A14 -year old boy from Baguio City sustained injuries from the illegal “crying cow” which led to the amputation of his right hand while a 17- year old male from Sagada, Mountain Province, who used the illegal “5-star” resulted to the amputation of the index finger of his right hand and multiple abrasions in his face and neck.
To prevent FWRIs, Malicdan said that there is a need to strengthen the campaign on Republic Act No. 7183 or the sale, manufacture, distribution, and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices.
Local government units should also designate community fireworks zones in local government units, and encourage the practice of community fireworks display to ensure safety.
LGUs should also formulate local ordinances, regulation fireworks selling and use in their area of jurisdiction.
Due to the increasing number of children who are victims of the FWRI, parents are also called on to supervise children during the holidays and prevent them from using firecrackers, instead use alternative modes of merry making during the celebrations. (JDP/RMC-PIA-CAR)
