DOH: 5 kids injured by firecrackers, so far

With still a few days until the New Year's Eve revelry, the Department of Health (DOH) on Sunday said that five children were already hurt after they mishandled the firecrackers they were playing with.

The DOH said that the victims were aged between six to 12 years old with two coming from Western Visayas and one each from Nueva Ecija, National Capital Region and Zamboanga Peninsula.

The Nueva Ecija victim’s left middle finger had to be amputated.

Another victim sustained an eye injury while the three others had less serious wounds.

The DOH assured that the victims were properly treated and were given antibiotics, tetanus toxoid and antitetanus serum.

The health department said that two victims are still in the hospital, while the others were already sent home.

Last Saturday, the DOH reported that the first recorded victim of firecracker accident was the 12-year-old boy from Nueva Ecija

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has encouraged the public to support the DOH's anti-firecracker campaign.

"Sundin ninyo, tumalima kayo sa sinasabi ng DOH: Iwas putol, iwas paputok, community fireworks ang patok," reminded the health chief during a radio interview on Sunday.

The DOH started its yearly surveillance on firecracker injuries last Friday, December 21.