By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Department of Health-Region VI (DOH-6) reported more than half of the 64 firecracker injuries recorded during the recent New Year’s Day celebrations were minors.

Based on data forwarded to local media yesterday, the agency recorded 35 firecracker injuries in Negros Occidental, 13 in Aklan, 12 in Iloilo, and two each in Capiz and Guimaras.

Antique reported zero firecracker injuries this year.

41 of the victims were between one to 17 years old, with the youngest being a boy in Sipalay City, who was hit in the eye by a firecracker.

DOH-6 added, most of the cases were eye and blast injuries, although most of them did not require hospitalization.

DOH-6 Violence and Injury Prevention Program coordinator, Dr. May Ann Sta Lucia, said the injuries this year were substantially lower compared to the 198 recorded between December 2016 and January 2017.

She credited the government’s campaign against firecrackers through Executive Order No. 28, signed last year by President Rodrigo Duterte, which regulated the use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnics./DGB, WDJ