Cebu City tops ‘cracker injuries
Cebu posted the highest number of firecracker-related injuries in Central Visayas, accounting for 90 (90.9 percent) of the 99 cases in the region as of 10 a.m. yesterday.
Of the figure, the highest is in Cebu City with 33 incidents. Of those injured, 59 percent were active participants.
According to the Department of Health- 7' s Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit ( DOHRESU), a one-year-old child was the youngest victim while a 65-year-old man was the oldest.
Majority of the victims were males and injuries occurred mostly at home (68 percent) and on the streets (32 percent).
Regional Epidemiologist Rennan Cimafranca, said the remaining cases were in Bohol with six and Negros Oriental with two.
Meanwhile, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama commended " task force holiday" for a " job well done".
In a meeting yesterday, Rama thanked the task force's members, which include the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) and the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO).
"Imagine kon wala pa na sila, susmaryosep," Rama said.
The task force, headed by Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, kept a close watch for any unlawful acts committed during the holidays.
Rama had also created a " task force paputok", which complemented task force holiday, to ensure that firecrackers were sold only in designated areas.
Earlier, Rama congratulated CCPO led by its director, Senior Superintendent Noli Romana, for maintaining peace and order during the nine- day dawn mass last Christmas.
A few weeks before the holidays, Rama had ordered a 24- hour monitoring to strengthen security in the downtown areas.
Cimafranca said that of the 90 cases in Cebu, six had to have their injured fingers amputated, 16 were injured in the eyes, while two others cannot be ascertained.
There were also two stray bullet incidents reported, where a 65-yearold resident of Barangay Mantuyong, Mandaue City was hit on the left leg while another 36- year- old from barangay Sudlon in Cebu City was hit on the right shoulder.
Chief Supt. Danilo Constantino, Police Regional Office PRO)- 7 director, said the stray bullet cases were in the cities of Mandaue and Cebu.
There were also similar reports in Talisay City and in Liloan town but no one was reported injured there.
"May tumagos lang sa bubong… wala namang natamaan (A bullet went through the roof… but no one was injured)," he said.
One Atty. Rafael Christopher Yap of Juan Luna Street, Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City also told the police that he discovered a slug of an unknown firearm in his bedroom after it pierced their roof.
Constantino had the bullet slug sent to the PNP Crime Laboratory for cross matching.
On the youngest victim, Cimafranca said the child, his sibling who is less than two years old, and their mother suffered burns on their feet when a firecracker got inside their house through an open window.
" Dili hinoon grabe pero nangapaso gyud ang ilang batiis (Their case was not severe; they and their mother just suffered burns in the legs)," Cimafranca said.
RESU has also listed one case of watusi ingestion.
Kwitis, piccolo, pirate, Ssarkler, thick long, triangle, whistle bomb, hotdog, onga- onga, flying tiger, watusi, lantaka and fountain, were noted as the firecrackers that injured this year's victims.
The DOH- 7- RESU Oplan: Kontra Paputok" surveillance was on Dec. 16, 2013 to Jan. 2, with firecracker-related injuries first reported on Dec. 23.
Cimafranca said their surveillance would end this Sunday.
According to the DOH report, next to Cebu City in terms of number of injuries is Lapu- Lapu City ( 18), followed by Talisay City (11), Mandaue City (10), Danao City (3), Balamban ( 2), and one each in the towns of Consolacion, Medellin, Oslob, and San Remegio.
Cimafranca said banning firecrackers in the future maybe a deterrent to lessen the number of injuries.
"Karon bitaw banned man ang piccolo ug lantaka pero gibaligya lang gihapon," he lamented.
Constantino said no untoward incident was recorded on New Year, which he described as generally peaceful.-