School learners from Dagupan City blows the traditional “torotot” to signal the start of the “Iwas Paputok ” Campaign during the launching ceremony held at the Dagupan City Plaza held on December 14, 2023. DOH advises the public to use alternative noise makers for the coming New Year celebration to avoid being injured from the use of fireworks.
THE Department of Health (DOH) – Ilocos Region today revealed the first fireworks-related injury (FWRI) casualty from Dagupan City, Pangasinan.
Regional Director Paula Paz M. Sydiongco disclosed that the 38-year old male who suffered multiple physical injuries secondary to blasting incident was admitted at the Region 1 Medical Center (R1MC) on December 26, 2023 and also died at the same day.
Sydiongco said that the cause of death was due to burn wounds, sepsis, 2nd degree burn – head right upper extremity and blasting injury.
“We strongly advise everyone to avoid using firecrackers to avoid any serious incidents. Ang paputok ay paputok, at lahat ng ito ay nakakadisgrasya. Kaya iwasan na lang po nating lumapit, manood at dumaan sa mga lugar na may mga nagpapaputok upang makaiwas sa sakuna.”
From December 21-28, 2023, a total of 33 FWRI was reported by the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU). It is 120% higher compared to the same period last year with 15 cases.
Pangasinan leads the provinces with most FWRI cases with 26 (78.8%) with Dagupan City having 18 of FWRI cases, followed by La Union with 5 (15.2%), Ilocos Sur with 1 (3%) and Ilocos Norte with 1 (3%).
Ages of cases ranged from 7-74 years with 27 (81.8%) males and 6 (18.2%) females injured.
“Karamihan pa rin ng mga kaso ng FWRI ay mga batang edad 5 hanggang14 at mga bystanders o nanonood sa mga nagpapaputok. Kaya huwag po nating hahayaang lumabas ng bahay ang mga bata sa tuwing mayroong nagpapaputok sa lansangan upang hindi sila matamaan,’ Sydiongco emphasized.
A total of 27 (81.8%) suffered blast/burn injury with no amputation, 3 (9.1%) suffered blat/burn with amputation injury and 3 (9.1%) suffered eye injury.
Unlabeled imported firecrackers is still the main cause of FWRI with 20 cases followed by boga with 7, kwitis – 2, and 1 case each from “one star”, “piccolo”, whistle bomb and “bawang”.
Sydiongco added that all government hospitals in the region are under Code White Alert effective December 21, 2023 to January 5, 2023 as part of their Oplan Iwas Paputok campaign during the yuletide season this year.
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