CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)-- The Research Epidemiology and Surveillance Disaster Response Unit (RESDRU) of the Department of Health Center for Health and Development Northern Mindanao (DOH-CHDNM) has tallied a total of 35 fireworks-related injuries from December 21, 2023, to January 5, 2024.
Dr. Stephanie Zamora, head of RESDRU at DOH-CHDNM, shared during the Talakayan sa PIA: Konsultayo Series that the fireworks-related injuries have “tripled” this year.
“Since 2016, karon pa nitala og in-ani nga 35 ang fireworks-related injury cases [Since 2016, it is just now that we have recorded 35 fireworks-related injury cases],” Zamora said.
In 2016, there were 28 cases; 2017 (10 cases); 2018 (13 cases); 2019 (10 cases); 2020 (1 case); 2021 (5 cases); and 2022 (10 cases).
Zamora shared that as of January 5, 2024, the department had tallied 35 fireworks-related injuries, of which 34 were fireworks-related cases and one stray bullet.
For Cagayan de Oro city, 7 cases; Iligan 4; Bukidnon 12; Fireworks and 1 stray bullet; Lanao del Norte 2; Misamis Occidental 5; and Misamis Oriental 4.
“Medyo overwhelming atong datus [Our data is quite overwhelming], to recall, starting December 21, 2023, gipagawas na nato ang [we already released] the code white alert, we released a memorandum, raising the code white alert for the yuletide season as well as the fireworks injury-related surveillance,” the doctor said.
One of the factors, said Zamora, that may contribute to the increase in fireworks-related injuries is the lifting of the public health emergency since July 2023, which allowed people to go out without restrictions. (JMOR/PIA-10)
