FIVE firecracker-related injuries have been reported in Negros Occidental from December 21 to 26, an official of the Department of Health (DOH)-Western Visayas said Monday.
Dr. May Ann Sta. Lucia, regional coordinator of DOH Violence and Injury Prevention Program, said the cases included eye injuries and blast injuries in the hands.
Two were from Bacolod City while one each from the cities of Bago and Sagay, and Murcia town.
Sta. Lucia said that only one patient was admitted at a hospital while the others were treated as outpatients.
She added that the patients were aged six to 22 years old.
Out of the nine firecracker-related injuries reported in Western Visayas since December 21, Negros Occidental’s five cases topped the list.
Two victims were reported in Iloilo City and one each in the provinces of Capiz and Iloilo.
Most of the blast injuries were caused by illegal firecrackers “buga,” piccolo, roman candle, and kwitis, she said.
Sta. Lucia said the monitoring period is until January 5.
She said the DOH has been intensifying its campaign against the use of firecrackers during the celebrations of Christmas and the New Year.
“We are advocating prohibition of individual possession and residential use of firecrackers because it’s unsafe,” she said.
She appealed to the parents to guide their children. She also called on the local chief executives to conduct campaign against the use of firecrackers.
“We encourage the public to engage in alternative methods in celebrating New Year, like using 'torotot,' musical instruments and cooking utensils (instead of firecrackers),” she said.