DOH logs 112 firework-related injuries

National

THE Department of Health (DOH) has recorded 112 firework-related injuries nationwide during the holiday monitoring period from December 21 to 28, according to its latest situation report.

The National Capital Region registered the highest number of cases at 52, the DOH said, with Ilocos Region following at 12 cases. Central Luzon and Western Visayas each reported nine incidents, placing them among the regions with the most injuries.

Health officials noted that boys aged 5 to 14 were the most affected group, accounting for 55 cases. Many of the injuries occurred in residential areas as families prepared for or celebrated the holidays.

The DOH identified 5-Star firecrackers as the leading cause of injuries. A significant number of cases were also linked to unidentified fireworks, often involving bystanders who could no longer determine what device caused their injuries.

Other firework-related incidents were attributed to boga, kwitis, piccolo, pla-pla, and whistle bombs, highlighting the continued risks posed by both legal and improvised pyrotechnics.

Beyond fireworks, the DOH also monitored road safety incidents, reporting 376 road crash injuries during the same period. Regions II, IV-A, and V recorded the highest number of vehicular accidents.

Data showed that most road crash victims were males aged 15 to 29, with motorcycles involved in nearly three-quarters of the cases. The agency added that 84 percent of those injured were not wearing safety gear, while 13 percent were under the influence of alcohol.

The DOH also flagged other health concerns, including 190 cases of noncommunicable disease emergencies such as stroke, heart attack, and asthma, as well as more than 600 calls to the National Center for Mental Health crisis hotline, underscoring the wide range of health risks during the holiday season.(Xienderlyn Trinidad, USJ-R Comm Intern)