The Department of Health (DOH) reported nine new cases of fireworks-related injuries, recorded between 6 a.m. on Jan. 5 and 5:59 a.m. on Jan. 6.
This brings the total count of injuries to 609 as the DOH concluded its surveillance for the 2023 fireworks season.
It also said that the latest cases, with a median age of 25, range from eight to 55 years old, with a notable 67 percent being males.
Of the new cases, 89 percent occurred at home and in the streets, and 78 percent of the injuries were attributed to "legal" fireworks, while 44 percent of individuals were hospitalized due to their injuries.
The DOH emphasized that there may be additional cases reported within the day and that stray bullet injuries (SBIs) are still being validated, potentially changing the overall count in the coming days.
The monitoring for tetanus cases will continue until Jan. 25, with the latest injury occurring on Jan. 4.
Meanwhile, in terms of geographical distribution, Metro Manila tops the list with 52 percent of cases, followed by the Ilocos Region with 10 percent, Calabarzon with 8 percent, and Central Luzon with seven percent.
The types of injuries reported include 33 individuals with blasts or burns with amputation, 74 percent with blasts or burns without amputation, 26 percent with eye injuries (including one confirmed case of blindness), and two cases of hearing loss.
The DOH stressed that 96 percent of these incidents occurred at home and in the streets, predominantly involving males actively participating in the use of fireworks.
Moreover, the top-ranking fireworks causing the majority of injuries were identified as "Kwitis," "5-star," "Pla-pla," "Luces," "Whistle Bomb," "Boga," and "Fountain."
Notably, the Health Department highlighted that “illegal” fireworks accounted for just 37 percent of the cases, challenging the misconception that legal fireworks are less dangerous.
The data indicates that “legal” fireworks cause more injuries, with 63 percent of cases attributed to them.
As the DOH continues its efforts to validate and monitor cases, the public is urged to exercise caution and adhere to safety guidelines to prevent further injuries during future celebrations.