By Dolly Yasa and Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental recorded 63 firecracker-related injuries (FRI) in different provincial government-managed hospitals from Dec. 21, 2022 to Jan. 3, 2023.
The number marked a 100 percent spike from 31 cases on Dec. 21, 2021 to Jan. 2, 2022.
Excluding those in Bacolod City, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ernell Tumimbang reported on Tuesday that 42.9 percent of the victims were 1 to 10 years old, with the common types of firecrackers used being “candle bomb, boga canon, five star, whistle bomb and triangulo”.
Tumimbang also reported that 13 of the victims were drunk.
Tumimbang also said that not a single person was treated for bullet injuries in hospitals under the management of the provincial government.
Records of the Department of Health Western Visayas showed that Negros Occidental topped the highest number of firecracker-related injuries in Region 6, in the past years.
Asked about the increase in the number of firecracker-related injuries, Tumimbang raised the possibility that there could be “ a problem with the implementation of the selling and use of firecrackers, adding those being sold are not allowed or regulated.”
He also stressed the need to look at the regulations on the selling of firecrackers, which should be strictly implemented.
The Provincial Health Office of Negros Occidental has been campaigning against the use of firecrackers during the yuletide season celebrations, he stressed.
Of the total number of cases this year, 42 are active cases, or the victims themselves lighting up the firecrackers, while 21 others are passive cases.
The Bacolod City Police Office, on the other hand, reported two firecrackers injuries in Bacolod City.
Meanwhile, police in Negros Occidental said FRI cases remained at 17 on Dec. 2022 to Jan. 1, 2023, similar to cases recorded on Dec. 2021 to Jan. 1, 2022.
Based on data from the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) that were released to the media on Tuesday, Jan. 3, victims of firecracker-related incidents in 2022 were all male, ranging from five years old to 55 years old.
The town of La Castellana recorded the highest number of cases with three, followed by two cases each in the cities of Bago, Victorias, Kabankalan, and Cadiz.
One case each was also reported in the towns of E.B. Magalona, Candoni, Hinoba-an, Isabela, and Valladolid, and Sagay City.
Most of the firecrackers used that wounded the victims were improvised cannon or “boga,” whistle bomb, candle bomb, 5-star, katay, kwitis, triangle, and sparklers or “pasirit.”
Police Lieutenant Judesses Catalogo, public information officer of Nocppo, said that most of the cases were reported late to the police.
In 2021, victims of the firecracker-related incidents were 16 males and one female aged 7 to 60.
Talisay City logged the highest number of incidents with five, followed by two cases each in the cities of Silay, Cadiz, and Candoni town. One case each in the cities of Escalante, Bago, San Carlos, and the towns of E.B. Magalona, San Enrique, and Pontevedra.
Catalogo earlier said they are intensifying their information drive on fireworks and firecracker safety to lessen the number of cases every year.
