‘Piccolo’ caused most firecracker injuries

The illegal firecracker, Piccolo, has been blamed for three of five firecracker-related injuries this holiday season.

As of 6 a.m. Wednesday, December 27, the Aksyon: Paputok Injury Reduction 2017 report of the Department of Health (DOH) showed that 26 out of 42 injuries, or 62 percent, have been caused by Piccolo.

This year’s figure is, however, lower than last year’s.

“It is 51 cases lower compared to the same period last year,” said the DOH report.

At far second is boga, which caused four injuries (10 percent), followed by whistle bomb with three injuries (7 percent).

Causing one injury each (or 2 percent) are bamboo canon, bawang, dragon firecracker, homemade firecracker, luces, pop-pop, and sparkler. Two other injuries were caused by unknown firecrackers.

Under Executive Order 28, the use of firecrackers shall be limited to community fireworks display areas, while pyrotechnic devices may still be used outside community fireworks display areas.

Hand injuries remained the most prevalent at 31; followed by head at 5; eye at 4; and neck at 3.

The DOH also reported three blast injuries that required amputation.

Majority of the cases, or 24, were reported in the National Capital Region; followed by Bicol Region with 6; and Western Visayas with 4.

In Metro Manila, the city of Manila saw the most victims with 16 cases while the cities of Las Piñas, Pasig, and Quezon had two each.

No deaths nor cases of stray bullets or firecracker ingestion were reported.